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Banigo Mulls Domestication Of Violence Against Women Act
The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo says the ‘Violence Against Women and Girls Act’ will soon be domesticated in the state, while the Family Court, which is still under construction, is now at the verge of completion.
The deputy governor stated this during the Just Girls Talk (JGT) organised by the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Youth Church to inform and enlighten female singles about the gains of abstinence from pre-marital sex in Port Harcourt.
Banigo, who said she has always been passionate about women and girls, said she has set up the Protect the Girl-Child Initiative to address and educate the public on the issues of violence and abuse against women and girls in the society.
According to her, steps can be taken to train the girl-child into an emotionally-sound, psychically-fit, intellectually and politically balanced woman, especially in the family as nation building begins in the family.
She said the Protect the Girl-Child Initiative was anchored on a four-point agenda, which includes the social, health, academic and political agenda.
Banigo explained that while the social agenda includes steps to ensure that women are appropriately regarded in the society, the health agenda strives to ensure that girls practice abstinence until they get married to prevent STIs and HIV/AIDs.
According to the deputy governor, the academic agenda revolves around the setting up of a mechanism to ensure that the girl-child excels in her education, especially in the sciences, while the political agenda encourages women who are 18 and above to register to vote and be voted for.
Banigo said the domestication of the Act and the speedy completion of the court would make it easier for abusers of women and the girls to be prosecuted and punished.
She admonished parents and guardians to be a safe haven for children in their homes.
“Please, teach your children about their bodies and the difference between good touch and bad touch, also ensure that your children feel safe to share with you when they have been abused by any one”, she stressed.
Banigo said the Governor Nyesom Wike-led government has put in place measures to eradicate harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and maltreatment of widows, adding “Arm yourselves with this information, stand your ground when people abuse you”.
Earlier, the Youth Pastor, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Port Harcourt, Pastor Chinedu Udechukwu said the Just Girls Talk programme was organized to enlighten the women on self-discovery and building self-esteem, building good home living healthy and dealing with sexually transmitted disease and other female related medical issued.
He urged young women not to be swayed by the antics of the devil to destroy their life, but rather be inspired by the vision and passion to succeed in life.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.