News
Insecurity: Govt allocates N112bn to protect School’s in 3years
The federal government has allocated more than N112 billion to ensure safety and inclusive spaces for children in the next three years.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday to commemorate the
2024 World Children’s Day with the theme “Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children and children.
Annually celebrated around the globe on 20 November, World Children’s Day commemorates the anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Convention on Children’s Rights on 20 November 1959 and 1989, respectively.
Consequently, the United Nations celebrates the day and strives to raise awareness about issues such as education inequity, child labour, and access to healthcare while also urging worldwide action to address these concerns.
The women’s affairs minister, therefore, pointed out that the government is committed to creating an environment where every child will have access to education, health and a life free from fear and harm.
According to her, the funding was through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools.
“Through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, more than N112 billion has been allocated to safeguard learning environments over the next three years, ensuring that schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all children,” she said.
She noted progress made in protecting children’s rights in the country, saying the Child Rights Act (CRA 2003) had been domesticated in the 36 states and the FCT.
She added that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 also indicated the government’s commitment to the Maputo Protocol.
“This Act has strengthened policies to shield children from abuse, violence and exploitation, reinforcing Nigeria’s stance against all forms of harm toward its youngest citizens.
“Nigeria is taking bold actions to combat violence against children through legislative reviews, enhanced policies and comprehensive child protection frameworks,” she said.
The minister, therefore, urged stakeholders to address critical issues such as child labour, trafficking, harmful cultural practices and barriers to inclusive education.
“Let us remember that every child represents our collective future. The ministry remains unwavering in its mission to build a Nigeria where every child is empowered, protected and given the environment and tools to thrive.
“We urge stakeholders to join us in this noble cause. Together, we can create a society where children’s rights are not only protected, but celebrated as the foundation of a sustainable and prosperous future,” she added.
(NAN)
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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