News
Couple arrested at Abuja Airport for child trafficking
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The issue of child traficking keeps on taking different dimensiona daily in the country. it is an established fact that nearly all trafficked victims are children.
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) report, more than a half of child trafficking victims are trafficked within their own country according to the new report.
It was therefore a dramatic scene that was witnessed at the Nnamdi Azikwe international airport last Wednesday, June 26th 2024, when one Mr Godfrey Ayodele Iyama and his wife Mrs Stella Iyama tried to smuggle a 6-year-old child (name withheld) away from the country without the consent of the father and in blatant disobedience of court order (contempt of court)–that the child in question should not leave the shores of Nigeria.
According to private investigator who had been put on the trail of the couple, “in order to perfect their criminal activities the identification of the innocent little girl was changed from the name is was given at birth and in the international passport I had earlier procured for her to Mr Godfrey Ayodele Iyama claiming that the father of the little girl has died while the father is still alive. The surprising things is that the little girl is having two valid passport bearing different name”.
However, if what Mr Godfrey claimed is right, why change the name of the child, which is totally different from the name on the first passport issued to her? Even if the father is dead, does that automatically change the identity of the girl in question? A lot of questions are begging for answers.
He said: “If not God and quick intervention of immigration officer and proactiveness of the local investigator at the airport they would have boarded the Qatar Airway flight going to Birmingham international airport with the child. The immigration officer at the airport after arresting and detaining them handed them over to the airport security who investigated them and established that they were guilty of child trafficking.”
He added that: “This singular incident should open our eyes as a citizen of this country Nigeria to irregularity in our data system and how those saddle with the responsibility of keeping record should be on top of their job. In a country where the system is working, how possible for same person to have two different identification, but in a country where anything goes it is very possible.”
Our correspondent met with the biological father of the child who narrated the whole story.
He said, “I got married to Shulamite November 28, 2017. We had our child in August 16, 2018. In 2021, many times I confronted her over my feelings that she was being unfaithful to me but she denied it. Finally In April of 2021, she confessed to sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. Because we haven’t slept together for over a year , we did a pregnancy test and she tested positive. A few weeks later she told me she had removed the child and when I reported the matter to the church they invited her and she ran away from my house with my three years old girl while I was still at work”.
He added, “For over a year she refused to tell me where she is with my baby. I was forced to file for custody of the child. She also filed for custody. In the court, she alleged that I use to beat her but the court found no such evidence but rather found evidence of her finger nails on my neck when she held me on the the neck while I was asleep. The judge ruled that we should both have custody of the child. That the child will be with her during school period but will be with me during holidays. And that none of us should take the baby outside Nigeria. They have failed to obey the court injunction as they have consistently denied me access to my child up till now”.
He alleged that: “In addition, my father-in-law Mr. Godfrey Ayodele Iyama conspired with his wife Stella Iyama and their daughter Shulamite Ewoma Ozo-iyama to change my daughter’s NIN and fraudulently obtained another imternational passport for her.”
All effort to talk to the Mr Godfrey Ayodele Iyama to hear his own side of the story proved abortive.
The case is now being handled by NAPTIP
By Gloria Ikibah
A major shortfall in autism diagnosis across Nigeria has left hundreds of thousands of children without access to early support, raising concerns about long-term impacts on families and the country’s healthcare system.
In response to the growing gap, The Alternative Bank has unveiled a nationwide campaign aimed at improving awareness, early detection and access to care.
The initiative, themed “It’s How You Show Up”, is being delivered in collaboration with Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Sterling One Foundation and Eliakim Foundation.
Despite estimates suggesting that more than 600,000 children in Nigeria may be on the autism spectrum, limited infrastructure and specialist care mean that most cases go undiagnosed. Many children are only identified at around the age of seven, missing the crucial early years when intervention is most effective. The situation is compounded by a shortage of trained professionals, with fewer than 200 psychiatrists serving a population exceeding 200 million.
The campaign is designed to tackle these systemic challenges through a combination of public awareness efforts, specialised training for caregivers, and expanded access to clinical screenings. Organisers say the screenings will help families move more quickly from suspicion to diagnosis, while also linking them to appropriate medical and educational support.
A key feature of the initiative is a policy-focused roundtable scheduled for 24 April in Lagos, where healthcare experts, government officials and private sector leaders will examine how autism screening can be integrated into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system. Discussions will also explore sustainable funding options to support children and families after diagnosis.
The campaign reflects increasing recognition of the need for coordinated action to close the diagnosis gap and strengthen long-term support for neurodiverse children across the country.
Group Executive at The Alternative Bank, Dr Jekwu Ozoemene, said: “We do not see inclusion as a seasonal task but as a vital part of a healthy society.
“Through this initiative, we are not just talking about support, we are delivering it. By tracking the results of these screenings and interventions, we can build a real system that helps the autism community and strengthens the nation”.
The ‘It’s How You Show Up’ campaign is part of the commitment by AltBank to social impact investment and inclusive finance. Individuals, caregivers, and organisations interested in the screening programme or the stakeholder roundtable can visit altbank.ng/autism26 for more information.
Isoko people in a trending video have vowed to block campaign moves if light is not restored in Isoko Nation.
Both local government areas have been in darkness for years.
In a sighted video Isoko people brandishing various placards bearing graffiti declaring that if power is not restored there will be no political campaigns in 2027.
Watch:
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s telecoms regulator has directed network operators to compensate subscribers with airtime where poor service delivery has been confirmed, signalling a firmer stance on consumer protection.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the move forms part of a strengthened enforcement regime aimed at improving network performance and holding operators accountable for persistent shortcomings.
The Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, outlined the development at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he detailed fresh compliance measures being rolled out across the sector.
Under the new approach, operators will be required to provide airtime credits to affected customers in areas where they have failed to meet the commission’s minimum quality standards. The obligation rests entirely on the service providers, rather than the regulator.
The commission said it is now relying on more precise monitoring tools that track network performance at local government level. This allows regulators to identify specific locations and timeframes where service quality falls below expectations, rather than relying on broad or general complaints.
Maida said the targeted system will make enforcement more effective, ensuring that compensation is tied directly to verified lapses in service delivery.
The directive covers network failures recorded between November 2025 and January 2026 across several operators, marking one of the most concrete steps yet by the regulator to address ongoing consumer frustrations in the telecoms sector.
“Eligible subscribers will receive airtime credits with notifications explaining the cause and value of the compensation,” he said.
He added that notifications would improve transparency and help users understand why compensation was applied to their accounts.
Maida noted the commission has significantly strengthened its monitoring systems to capture real-time, location-specific service performance data.
“These systems ensure enforcement reflects actual user experience rather than generalised industry averages,” he said, highlighting improved regulatory precision.
He added that operators are required to implement the compensation directly, while the NCC provides oversight to ensure compliance.
“Independent checks will confirm that affected subscribers are properly credited,” he said, noting sanctions for non-compliance may follow.
Maida said the initiative formed part of broader reforms aimed at improving accountability and service standards within the telecommunications sector.
“Operators failing to meet obligations will face stricter enforcement measures,” he warned, signalling tougher regulatory action ahead.
He stressed that improving service quality required both sustained infrastructure investment and stronger operational discipline by network providers.
“Service providers must maintain performance standards consistently across all regions, including underserved and rural areas,” he said.
Maida reiterated the NCC’s commitment to balancing consumer protection with industry sustainability and long-term sector growth.
“Operators must take responsibility for the quality of experience delivered to subscribers,” he said, urging greater corporate accountability.
He added that the commission remained committed to ensuring Nigerians received value for money spent on telecom services nationwide.
“Persistent poor service quality is no longer acceptable under current regulatory direction,” he said, emphasising zero tolerance for continued lapses.
A Nation Under Siege:The Urgent Task of Securing Nigeria
AltBank Targets Autism Diagnosis Crisis with Nationwide Awareness Drive
Video: Isoko people protest over lack of power vow to block political campaigns
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