NAS Marks Human Rights Day, Calls for Protection of “Everyday Essentials”

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Sahara Deck, has called for renewed commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights that define daily human existence, as the world marks International Human Rights Day 2025 with the theme, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.”

In a statement signed by its Capoon, Chike Onyia, the group reflected on the enduring relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), describing it as a covenant designed to protect human dignity. Onyia said the day serves as a reminder that human rights “are not distant ideals but the fabric of daily life — the anchors that allow societies to breathe, to hope, and to thrive.”

According to the statement, the theme aligns with the founding principles of the association — service to humanity, defence of justice, and protection of human dignity. It noted that rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare, freedom of expression, and personal safety are “everyday essentials” that should not be treated as privileges.

The organisation, however, lamented that millions of Nigerians continue to face obstacles in accessing these basic guarantees. It listed insecurity, underfunded schools, a failing health system, environmental degradation, and restrictions on free expression as persistent challenges undermining human rights in the country.

“No society can claim to safeguard human rights when its people cannot sleep safely in their own homes,” the statement warned, stressing that insecurity continues to erode public trust and diminish quality of life.

Quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, Onyia reiterated that human rights begin “in small places, close to home,” urging Nigerians to uphold the dignity of one another and speak out against injustice in their communities.

The group called on all tiers of government, civil society, the private sector, and citizens to recommit to building a nation “where no one is left behind — where life is valued, dignity upheld, justice accessible, freedoms protected, and equality truly lived.”

“Human rights are not lofty aspirations,” the statement concluded. “They are our daily bread. And in defending them, we defend the humanity we share.”