Environmental pollution by way of oil spillage and gas flaring are the lots and bane of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where the country's oil exploration activities are carried on by the oil multinational companies (MNCs). The cries of the people as well as several non-governmental organizations for attention to the area were not only spurned, but were at intervals rebuffed with crackdown and repression from successive administrations in the country, with the strong connivance of the oil MNCs. The situation reached a crescendo, when the people of this region took to self-help by bombing, kidnapping and abducting the expatriates and other categories of personnel of the oil MNCs in exchange for monetary ransom. The government not able to bear the embarrassment and the drop in daily oil production, coupled with the substantial loss of revenues devised the amnesty programme in 2009 as solution to the quagmire. The paper is aimed at examining the circumstances causing the crisis situation in the area, and the attendant consequences to the people of the areas and to the global community. It will attempt a critical analysis of the amnesty programme of the Federal government as a last resort and its impact at ensuring durable peace and sustainable development in the region. It discusses some of the challenges to amnesty programme and concludes with potential policy recommendations.

209/5082007. 8 The tragic toll of this epidemic "brings compelling urgency to the call for a renewed commitment by religious leaders to achieve Universal Access for All to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as well as impact mitigation." 9 By the end of 2003, Nigeria ranked third globally after South Africa and India with its number of reported HIV/AIDS cases. 10 As statistics reveal, it is a worldwide disaster. HIV/AIDS causes unacceptable human suffering to the infected individuals, as well as to their families, communities and nations alike. 11 Its impact leaves nothing untouched. In an increasingly interconnected world, no State or community is immune to its ravaging effect; there are no safe havens. It does not recognise race, colour or creed, sex, economic status, political boundaries or religious association one belongs to. It is not just a health issue or an economic, geopolitical or human rights crisis. It is a human condition and therefore of great concern to the religious leaders.Nigerian people are very religious. This was confirmed by a BBC 2004 survey, which revealed that an average Nigerian attends a church, mosque or other religious service more often than most other nationalities. 12 In essence, the article examines the response of Nigerian religious leaders to the challenge of HIV/AIDS and the adequacy or otherwise of these responses. It further explores ways in which the religious leaders can effectively meet the challenges of a disease that is not only a health problem, but also a crisis that affects and permeates the social, economic, spiritual and political lives of the people. Why religious leaders?HIV/AIDS poses new challenges to religions all over the world, including Nigeria. As HIV/AIDS-related deaths mount, the pandemic is challenging the world's mainstream religions as much as any event in modern history, setting at odds their core mission of assuaging human suffering and perfecting human morality. 13 The religious leaders and those associated with faith-based organisations have the formidable task of speaking out truthfully and taking the necessary action to curb the spread of HIV and alleviate the 8 http://bit.ly/13spmr. 9 Reverend Mokhakhlane, the President Superintendent of Lesotho Evangelical Church, afrol News sa http://bit.ly/ha8D69. 10 UNAIDS 2005 http://bit.ly/fQjswu. 11 WCC HIV and AIDS Curriculum 6. 12 CEDPA 2005 http://bit.ly/i63YIh. 13 De Young Washington Post.

The tragic impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Nigeria and its rate of escalation despite increasing access to health services have been alarming and terrifying. Nigerian people are very religious, yet the impact of the pandemic leaves nothing untouched. The article examines the response of the Nigerian religious leaders to the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It discusses some of the challenges facing religious leaders as they grapple with the consequences of this pandemic and explores ways in which they can make a real difference in halting its spread.

Durojaye, E. et al. (2016). The African commission on human and people's rights and the woman question. AbstractThis paper proposes that in developing jurisprudence on women's rights, the African Commission will need to ask the woman question, particularly the African woman question. The woman question requires a judicial or quasi-judicial body to always put woman at the centre of any decision with a view to addressing the historically disadvantaged position of women in society. Asking the African woman question means examining how the peculiar experiences of African women have been ignored by laws rooted in patriarchy across the region. Although the Commission has handled few cases directly dealing with women's rights, the paper suggests that the Commission can draw inspiration from decisions of other regional and international human rights bodies such as the European Court on Human Rights and the Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) on how to ask the woman question. The paper recommends that in line with feminist reasoning, there is a need for the African Commission to develop a consistent gender-sensitive approach in dealing with cases that may have implications for women. In essence, the African Commission must ask the African woman question when dealing with cases on the enjoyment of women's fundamental rights.

Oil is a major source of income for Nigeria and it is the mainstay of the country's economy. Nigeria's intensive oil sector accounts for nearly 40% of its gross domestic product, but declined steadily to an average of 14.71% of the country's total export between 2006 and 2011 1 ; and contributed about 80% of budgetary revenues that all tiers of government heavily depend on. 2 Oil spills and gas flaring are some of the effects of the unregulated exploratory activities of the oil multinational companies that have contributed immensely to the physical and mental illness of the local inhabitants of the Niger Delta region and violated most of their rights as guaranteed under international and regional human rights instruments and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) 1999. In view of the growing threats to human health and the environment (posed by human activities), the international community has agreed to a number of treaties to respond to the health and human rights challenges posed by environmental degradation. Although Nigeria is a party to most of these instruments, 3 it has done little or nothing to regulate the conduct of the oil companies that negatively impact on the health of the Niger Delta people. While the impact of oil extraction affects both men and women, the article focuses on its implications for women's reproductive well-being. This is because women are a disadvantaged and marginalised group and have continued to experience discriminatory practices in many parts of the country, including the Niger Delta area. The article discusses the health challenges associated with oil exploitation in the Niger Delta, paying attention to the position of women. It then proffers suggestions on measures and steps that could be taken by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders in ensuring the adequate protection of the health rights of local inhabitants.