NEWS
Nigerian Children’s Future Holds Hope Amidst Hardship
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….Nigerian Children’s Future
By Prosper Okoye
Amidst the spate of hardship, the future of the Nigerian child is full of hope, said the Child Protection Network (CPN).
Things have become so tough lately that a majority of Nigerians are unable to afford the basic needs of life.
Child rights advocates have said that this could further trigger child labour and other forms of abuse.“Child labour remains a burning issue in Nigeria,” said CPN FCT Coordinator, Michael Adeniji.
“The recent data released by the NBS states that 43 percent of children in Nigeria are involved in child labour.
I think that is a very startling datum,” he told DAILY ASSET in a chat shortly after the end of the organization’s Q3 general meeting attended both virtually and in person yesterday.“Child hawking, street begging, trafficking of children, and other things remain burning issues,” emphasized Adeniyi, who has just taken over the leadership of the Network.
Corroborating this issue, a member named Modukpe Adelanwa said she intervened in a case where a woman bit her maid, who is still a child. “I don’t understand why a woman will eat the flesh of her maid,” she said.
Adelanwa also alleged that a powerful cabal is profiting from the exploitation of children in the FCT.
Read Also: Group lauds Gov. Fintiri for signing Child Protection Bill into law
Additionally, another member, Vital Anyadike, pointed out the increasing use of children by the “yahoo-yahoo” boys for rituals. The trafficking of children abroad for internet fraud was also decried.
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Furthermore, the CPN coordinator acknowledged the dilemma of giving alms to children or patronizing a child laborer’s trade, thereby fueling the trend of abuse, vis-à-vis the fear that the child may die without patronage or alms.
“It would be against the ethics and values of my work to patronize children who are hawking or begging. However, it does not mean I don’t see them,” he said.
“What we do as actors is that when we see cases like this we try to intervene, ask questions, and rescue them. And when the need be we invite the state actors.
Read Also: Zamfara Assembly passes Child Protection Bill
“We handled one such case where two children between the age of five and nine, were begging on one of the major roads of the FCT suburbs, we rescued them and provided shelter for them in one of the shelter homes in the FCT. Now we have a plan to empower the family economically so the children are not put out to work,” he explained.
“To members of society who are in this dilemma, of having children begging or you noticed that there is a lot of child work going around, whilst is not morally wrong to give children money when you see that a child looks impoverished, it is usually best when we do this the right way. If we can identify local organizations in those areas who are working with children and volunteer with them, those resources can be put towards supporting the family of those children, and calling them off the streets, because that should be the goal,” he added.
The removal of fuel subsidy coupled with the economic and monetary policies of President Bola Tinubu is said to have caused the spate of recent hardship which has created protest in a state.
A participant, Uzoma Aneto, called on the government to engage stakeholders that deal directly with the local poor for proper data and to ensure the proposed palliatives get to the people that really need them.
Adeniji continued: “We need to do better and it goes beyond the NGOs and the government organizations to even private citizens, we need to know that all forms of child abuse are wrong, we need to contribute our quota to making sure that we have a suitable environment for children. Cases of child sexual abuse, trafficking, and hawking should be made a taboo in our society, and that’s when we can say we are approaching the development of our nation.”
“We know that the country is going through very difficult and tough economic times, however, we should always do the right thing. I am very optimistic about the future of the Nigerian child. Have you looked around the world and seen what the Nigerian child is able to accomplish? Being the best in mathematics, and winning global awards, we would say that some of them are privileged, but some are those that have risen from grass to grace.
However, the CPN Coordinator stated that they are actively taking measures to address the trend of child abuse in the FCT.
“People like me that work with the children, we will make sure that we do not relent, and we continue to advocate for change, and do better.
“Child labour is not the solution, as a matter of fact, it further causes problems to the family and the society.
“We have mapped out a strategy to engage communities to make them understand why education is most important for children. This time we want to double our efforts and make sure we go to local communities to engage stakeholders, market women union, youth groups, leaders on why children need to be given the needed support to grow optimally,” he added.
The meeting also featured a didactic session by Chioma Odogwu taking the participant on the journey of crafting stories that can reach their program goals.
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NEWS
Ajuri, Tinubu’s Spokesperson Takes Exit, Cites Mesical Reaaona
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Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”NEWS
Fuel Crisis: 1000 CSOs Fault Tinubu’s Economic Team, Want Immediate Reconstitution
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By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.NEWS
Tension in Makurdi Community as NAF Personnel Demolishes Houses, Destroys Rice Farm
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There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.