Nation
Intensify Efforts At Tackling Violence Against Children, Okei-Odumakin Charges FG
President, Women Arise for Change Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Initiative has charged the Federal Government to massively step up its efforts to tackle violence against children.
Okei-Odumakin gave the charge in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
The group president also urged the Nigerian government to do more to tackle the entrenched causes of violence against children.
She advised they addressed the social and cultural attitudes, sexual abuse which was so much prevalent now.
She added that gender discrimination, poverty and humanitarian crises must be knipped in the bud.
“At the same time, it must pay far greater attention to new and emerging challenges caused by armed conflict, violent extremism and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Women Arise is calling on the government of Nigeria to massively step up its efforts to tackle violence against children.
“We welcome the fact that Nigeria is one of 12 African ‘pathfinding’ countries recognised by the UN-led Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
“For their commitment to raising awareness, stimulating leadership, galvanising action and establishing national violence prevention standards. But much more needs to be done,” she said
The group president noted that they were aware of the financial constraints that African governments continued to endure in the post-pandemic economic slow-down.
Okei-Odumakin, however, noted that the group could not allow the small gains made in tackling violence against children over the past 30 years to be wiped out by failure to invest in social and child protection programmes.
She, therefore, advised government to increase funding, noting that violence against children had a significant harmful, social and economic impact on society as a whole.
“The evidence is clear as violence against children is directly related to poor educational attainment, school drop-outs, job prospects and long-term poor health.
“Long-term impacts on productivity adds massively to the cost of health and social care.
“Given the current economic uncertainty, violence prevention programmes funded by international donors and NGOs remain essential,” she said.
Okei-Odumakin, however, explained that the roots of the problems in Africa, had to do with deep-rooted traditional attitudes and practices toward children especially girls, adding that it was a significant barrier to success.
She said that volence against children would only be eradicated when Africans themselves took responsibility.
She noted that it was particularly frustrating that effective strategies, good practices and home-grown African solutions to prevent violence against children existed and had been proven to work, but were largely ignored.
According to her, global efforts to tackle violence against African children often fail to acknowledge indigenous systems of child protection which can be promoted and replicated across the continent.
“It is 30 years since the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child better known as the African Children’s Charter was adopted.
“Most African governments, including that of Nigeria are signatories to both the African Children’s Charter and the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Yet everyday, millions of children across the continent face abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
“Violence has devastating impacts on a child’s dignity, physical and mental wellbeing, development and life chances.
“Children with disabilities or albinism, those in residential care or living and working on the streets, and those caught up in humanitarian crises and armed conflict are most at risk from violence.
“While better digital connectivity and pandemic lock-downs have driven an increase in online sexual abuse, “she said.
Okei-Odumakin noted that both financial capacity and political will were in short supply.
She, therefore, urged all governments, the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities to scale up investment in initiatives to end violence against children.
“Eradicating this stain on our collective conscience is one of the most important priorities of our time.”
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has ordered immediate closure of Ladipo Market, Mushin, for several environmental offences ranging from reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non-payment of waste bills, among others.
Wahab said that the market would remain closed until the mandatory conditions of redress were met by traders and market stakeholders, adding that it was part of ongoing efforts at instilling compliance in markets around the state.
Wahab, while speaking on the development, underscored the critical importance of environmental hygiene in markets.
He said: “It is imperative that markets in the state adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents.
“The closure of Ladipo Market serves as a stern reminder that no entity, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.”
He stated that the state government was fully committed to collaborating with market stakeholders, to facilitate necessary adjustments and improvements, to enable them meet required environmental standards, adding that the market would not be reopened for business until set standards were met.
The commissioner said, “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations. LAWMA’s intervention is a significant step towards rectifying these issues and bringing the market to compliance.”
In his reaction, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. MuyiwaGbadegesin, said that the closure was expected to allow for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact of the market’s activities and the implementation of necessary remedial measures, serving as a clear signal that LAWMA would not hesitate to take decisive actions, where and when environmental laws were flouted.
“As Lagos State continues to grow and develop, it is imperative that economic activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally responsible.”
“LAWMA’s recent actions demonstrate the authority’s commitment to this cause. The offensive against environmental infractions will continue till sanity is restored in our markets, while the next stop will be illegal markets,” he stressed.
The closure of Ladipo Market follows a similar action taken against Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, Oke-odo markets, and some sections of Tejuosho Market, for serial infractions.
The decision to shut down those markets underscored the state government’s unwavering commitment to the restoration of environmental sanity in the state.
President Bola Tinubu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, have appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their planned strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The organised labour had fixed Tuesday, October 3, for the commencement of an indefinite strike over fuel subsidy removal.
However, speaking during the public lecture and special Juma’at prayer to mark the 63rd independence anniversary of the country at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday, Tinubu appealed to the workers not to embark on the strike.
Represented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, the President reiterated the commitment of his administration to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
This was contained in a statement by the media aide to the Deputy Senate President, Ismail Mudashir.
The statement said, “The Sultan has talked about the issue of strike by the NLC. I also call, on behalf of His Excellency, the President, and the entire government, on the labour leaders to shelve the strike.
“Let’s dialogue, let’s sit together, let’s understand ourselves, and let’s look at the prevailing situation in the country. How do we meet this country, the challenges ahead and the current challenges? It is through dialogue that we can solve our problems collectively.”
While stating that the government was new and working hard to bring succour to Nigerians,” Tinubu added, “It (Federal Government) has set aside N500bn and other packages are being unveiled to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. Therefore, we need to support and pray for the government.”
Earlier, the Sultan had appealed to organised labour to give the Federal Government another chance.
He said, “For God’s sake, for Allah’s sake, anybody planning to go on strike should please give the government another chance. Please, rethink and give the government another chance.”
The Sultan, who said he had been involved in the negotiation of the labour leaders and the government since 2007, said if the NLC and TUC embarked on the strike, it would do more harm than good.
The Ogun State House of Assembly has accused the police of alleged connivance with land grabbers in the state.
The assembly called on the Inspector General of Police, KayodeEgbetokun, to look into the alleged illegal arrest and detention of innocent Ogun residents on trumped-up charges by the police in connivance with some suspected land grabbers in the State.
The Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, made the appeal at Tuesday’s plenary when other lawmakers took turns reporting rampant cases of land-grabbing in their constituencies.
The discussion took place when members were contributing to a debate on the second reading of the State Anti-land Grabbing (amendment) bill.
According to the Speaker, hundreds of innocent residents of Ogun are languishing in the various police cells, both at Alagbon in Lagos and the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
This, the Speaker said, was “due to the connivance of land grabbers with some security agents against innocent members of the public.”
Oluomo pleaded with IGP Egbetokun to wade into the matter so as to ensure that innocent Ogun residents are not made to suffer on account of trumped-up charges.
Oluomo advised that any land-related matters should be charged to court, while promising that the new amendment would ensure the constitution of a task force by the state government to handle land matters.
In their various submissions, the lawmakers stressed that the activities of the land grabbers had been affecting the peace, progress, and development of the state, hence the need to take a holistic approach towards addressing the menace.
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