General
SERAP Sues FG Over Failure to Rescue Train Attack Victims
By Adedapo Adesanya
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over its failure to protect the rights to life, security, and dignity of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, and the failure to secure the safe release of those held captive by the terrorists.
The suit followed reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) failed to approve funds for surveillance equipment that could have helped to prevent the train attack.
Business Post had reported that terrorists had attacked the AK9 Abuja–Kaduna train on March 28, killing at least nine people, wounding several others, and abducting an unknown number of passengers.
The victims have remained with the terrorists for a month despite repeated appeals for the government to free them from captivity.
In the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/20/22 filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP is, therefore, seeking “a declaration that the train attack, abductions and killings of passengers by terrorists amount to a failure by the government to protect Nigerians, and to prevent these grave human rights violations.”
The body is also seeking “an order directing the Buhari government to protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians, including travellers across the country, by ensuring adequate security and taking measures to prevent attacks.”
SERAP is seeking “an order directing the Buhari government to urgently find and identify all the passengers, victims and their families, and to pay adequate monetary compensation of N50 million to each of the passengers and victims and their families.”
In the suit filed together with an application for an expedited hearing, SERAP is arguing that “The Buhari government has a legal duty to protect individuals from real and immediate risks to their lives and security caused by actions of third parties such as terrorists.”
It is also arguing that “a fundamental notion of contemporary human rights law is that victims of violations such as the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack enjoy an independent right to effective remedies. Rights without remedies are ineffectual, rendering illusory the government’s duty to protect such rights.”
According to SERAP, “the Buhari government has failed to protect the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights of the victims of the train attack to life, dignity and security, and their right to an effective remedy.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare and Miss Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: “The Buhari government is under a legal obligation to protect the life of every citizen in the country.
“Remedies logically should be proportionate to the gravity of the harm or violations caused by the government and its agents or by terrorists or unknown perpetrators.
“Human life has a special value and dignity which requires legal protection. It is the principle of international law, and even a general conception of law, that any breach of an engagement involves an obligation to make reparation.
“The officials of the Buhari government have publicly stated that they knew or had information that an attack on the train was imminent but the government failed and/or neglected to take measures to prevent the train attack.
“The government will still be held accountable for failing or neglecting to guarantee and protect human rights regardless of whether such violations are directly or indirectly attributable to the government or its officials.
“The Buhari government has an obligation to promote and protect the rights to life, security and dignity. This obligation means that the government must create an enabling environment that facilitates the enjoyment of these rights by the people.
“The failure of the Buhari government to protect and guarantee the rights to life, security, liberty and dignity of the passengers and victims of the train attack violates the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“The Buhari government and the Nigeria Railway Corporation had ignored several warnings in the past to take preventive measures to provide adequate security for the train services, and to suspend late rail services to prevent attack by terrorists and to ensure the security and safety of passengers.”
“Few days before the train attack, some terrorists had gained control of and entered the Kaduna airport in a daring attack. The Buhari government failed or refused to take preventive measures to ensure adequate security in the airport and its surrounding, and to prevent the attack on the train.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again reacted to the activities of individuals and groups falsely claiming to represent or act on its behalf, warning Nigerians against falling for these schemes.
According to the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, in a statement, these persons continue to circulate fictitious offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other financial benefits allegedly issued or endorsed by the CBN.
“Despite the public advisory issued on November 18, 2024, through the Bank’s official channels and news outlets, these misleading schemes have persisted, targeting unsuspecting members of the public with false and deceptive narratives,” the statement said.
“The CBN wishes to reiterate that it has not authorised, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organisation to act as an agent or intermediary in offering contracts, financial grants, or intervention funds to the public. The CBN also does not endorse or support such claims in any form.
“Members of the public are advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not award contracts or disburse funds through unsolicited communications such as emails, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or any social media platform. It also does not request payment of fees in exchange for contracts, grants, or financial interventions, nor does it engage intermediaries or third parties to offer financial services or opportunities to the public.
“If you are approached by individuals or entities making such claims, we strongly advise that you do not engage with them. Instead, such incidents should be reported immediately to the relevant law enforcement agencies or the nearest CBN Branch.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to safeguarding the financial interests of the Nigerian public and continues to work closely with security agencies to investigate and address fraudulent activities,” the statement said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that its resolve to embrace technology as a means of enhancing capacity to deliver on its regulatory mandate more effectively and generate additional revenue for the government is being misinterpreted in some quarters as concession of its operations.
NIMASA, in a statement, said a pivotal innovation in this regard is the Maritime Enhanced Monitoring System (MEMS).
“This system brings digital traceability to the core of Nigeria’s maritime operations. MEMS provides real-time visibility into vessel movements, operational logs, and regulatory interactions. Through automated alerts, smart invoicing, and centralized data integration, NIMASA can now detect, document, and respond to maritime activities with greater precision and efficiency—eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks while strengthening compliance,” it stated.
It listed additional recipients targeted as waste reception services, a routine operation for both domestic and international vessels have traditionally lacked proper tracking, resulting in unmonitored activities and significant revenue losses.
“With MEMS, each waste offload can be logged, time-stamped, and automatically billed, converting previously missed opportunities into a consistent revenue stream while ensuring environmental standards are met,” the statement said.
“Marine pollution control, another critical area of NIMASA’s mandate, has similarly been constrained by limited digital tools. In the absence of satellite tracking and automated reporting, pollution events often go unnoticed or are reported too late to mitigate their impact. With the integration of modern surveillance systems, digital logbooks, and real-time alerts, NIMASA can now respond swiftly to such incidents, recover environmental damages, and hold polluters accountable—both legally and financially.
“It is important to emphasize that past revenue shortfalls experienced by the Agency mainly stemmed from outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, and insufficient digital enforcement mechanisms which allowed some external elements to capitalize on the loopholes for personal gains .
“The current reforms being implemented by NIMASA are focused squarely on overcoming these limitations. By investing in digital infrastructure and streamlining monitoring systems, the Agency is positioning itself to fulfill its statutory obligations with transparency, efficiency, and accountability,” it added.
NIMASA therefore called for the support of its transformation journey as it aligns with the broader national objectives of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The Agency remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime governance, ensuring environmental safety, and optimizing revenue for the nation,” the statement said.
“It is worthy of note that the Deep Blue Project of the Agency which now enjoys global recognition also witnessed such resistance at the initial stage,” it stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Innovate Africa, the product-led fund backing bold early-stage innovators, has announced it will host the Lagos edition of World Product Day 2025 on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at The Strong Tower Hall in Lagos to tackle the world’s “wickedest” problems.
The one-day conference marks the culmination of a continent-wide transformative sprint, moving from grassroots problem identification to prototype-ready solutions that address Africa’s most complex and urgent challenges.
According to a statement shared with Business Post, World Product is a global initiative by Mind the Product, celebrated in over 100 cities worldwide. Curated by Innovate Africa, the Lagos gathering offers a high-impact, single-day conference that connects product builders, engineers, founders, and enterprise teams through thought leadership discussions, practical learning, and talent engagement.
Themed Bold Builders Wanted, the initiative began in March with an open Ideathon, which crowdsourced real-world challenges from across the continent. Innovate Africa distilled the hundreds of entries into 12 “wicked problems” spanning healthcare, climate resilience, digital infrastructure, consumer protection, and public services.
In April, the fund assembled multidisciplinary teams and product owners, who through structured sprints pushed each idea to prototype stage. The top 5 teams will pitch their solutions live in Lagos for a $2,000 grand prize and a comprehensive post-event support package designed to help transform early-stage ideas into scalable ventures. In addition, finalist teams could receive incubation support, or mentoring.
Set to bring together up to 250 curated participants, including mid- to senior-level professionals, founders, hiring managers, and ecosystem leaders, confirmed speakers include Mr Mustapha Otaru, Chief Product Officer at Sterling Bank; Mr Andrew Obuoforibo, Head of Product at 54 Collective; and Mr Isma’il Shomala, Chief Product Officer at Go Money.
In addition to the hackathon finale, the event highlights will include: Product Career Fair, a curated matchmaking between top-tier product and engineering talent and leading African tech employers; Hands-On Product Workshops, a facilitated training on customer discovery, product strategy, and experimentation; and Fireside Chats & Panels, an intimate discussions with product executives, including a spotlight session with top tech companies in Africa, including Moniepoint.
Kristin H. Wilson, Managing Partner of Innovate Africa Fund, said “Too many of Africa’s wicked problems are still meeting surface solutions – shiny tech, borrowed models from markets such as the US, and large funding rounds – before the problem has been clearly defined.
“If we really want to solve these challenges, we need to start by listening, get clear on what’s broken and then roll up our sleeves with builders who lead with empathy, context, and a bias for execution. That’s really what World Product Day Lagos is about – a day to move lived experience into tested prototypes and to line up capital, expertise and networks that can carry the strongest ideas to product-market fit.”
Product builders, engineers, founders, and enterprise teams are invited to register at https://lu.ma/jnjimijz to attend World Product Day Lagos 2025 and be part of a movement turning bold ideas into breakthrough products.
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