By Fadlillah Abdallah
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has observed that reporting of early warning and response has gone beyond the conventional style, into in-depth collection, analysis and contextualization of information through social mobilization.
It’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, spoke on Friday, at a two-day training organized for community observers, response networks, and the media in Enugu.
While tasked security agencies and community observers in the country on early warnings and response mechanisms, Rafsanjani also advised journalists to adopt a system that will encourage citizens’ inputs on early warnings and response.
The Executive Director also called for the formation of an emergency response team that will include the media and other relevant bodies, to coordinate and build confidentiality in information sharing on early warning and response.
“Early Warning and Early Response reporting extends beyond usual reporting functions by journalists to in-depth issues like ability to identify, collect, analyse and contextualise information/data through well-informed social mobilisation and socialisation process.”
On the role of security agencies on early response, Rafsanjani decried the habitual delayed response to early warning by security agencies, which has resulted in discouraging community observers from reporting predicted conflict.
He further tasked community observers on proactive and verifiable information gathering on early warnings which, he posits, will help timely decision-making in early response.
“Recurring delayed Response to Early Warning signal by relevant security agencies has continued to discourage reporting effort by Community Observers in conflict prediction and prevention process.
“Efficient Early Warning system remains paramount in conflict prevention process with cognisance to risk assessment, response system, prediction mechanisms and wider information dissemination.”
Rafsanjani also called for collaborative efforts of National and state Assembly members, adding that constituency offices of legislators should serve as credible platforms to liaise with elected officials to draw their attention on early warning signs, so that they become very active and informed, and raise matters of public interest safely and protection in the legislature.
