June 10, 2024
The Federal Government has banned underaged girls from lodging in hotels.
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, who read the riot act at the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony in Abuja at the weekend, said the move was part of the precautionary measures to halt human trafficking, especially of Nigerian girls.
The ban came against the backdrop of recent rescue of over 10 teenage girls trafficked to Ghana.
She cautioned hoteliers nationwide against accommodating underaged girls in their facilities, as defaulters would face sanctions, and mandated them to put up a ‘No Lodging of Underaged Girls’ signage outside their facilities.
The minister, who also extended the riot act to proprietors of schools across the country, warned against bullying of students by either teachers or among students, saying “Women have been suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about allowing the poor to breathe in this country.
“Meanwhile I am sure you saw the video circulating about our girls taken to Ghana. Did you see it? Very good. Action will start on Monday.
“You will hear about our action first thing on Monday morning. That is the first I am going to approach and see what we can do about it. Nigeria must be better. From 20th (June), we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls.
”What happened in Niger State will be an understatement to what will happen in the FCT and I mean it. No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools.”
Kennedy-Ohaneye also said her ministry was determined to stop premature death of Nigerians as hospitals would no longer be allowed to reject emergency patients.
She said: “Our hospitals will also put a sign of ‘no more rejection of emergency patients’. These are some of the major issues we have in this country.”
