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Oluremi Tinubu, Governors Wives Sign Agreement to Stop Harmful Practices Against Women
Oluremi Tinubu, Governors Wives Sign Agreement to Stop Harmful Practices Against Women
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and the wives of state governors on Tuesday signed an agreement to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful social practices against women in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed in Abuja at the maiden edition of Gender and Social Norms Summit 2024 organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Renewed Hope initiative in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady.
In her keynote address, the First Lady said that the prevalence of harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, which in some cases leads to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), and other forms of violence against girls and women remain unacceptably high.
She said, in spite of various efforts, the incidence of these practices continues to grow, decrying that the spate of rape cases and GBV had reached an alarming rate, not sparing babies too.
She said: “Do we allow this trend to continue, or do we look the other way? That is why I am calling on the law enforcement agencies, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly.
“To appropriate and enforce stiffer laws and punishments for perpetrators of rape, sexual violence, and other forms of GBV.
No guilty party should be allowed to go free and start running the streets looking for the next victim.”
Tinubu admitted that collective action was needed to put an end to the practices, while advocating for the development of state-specific action plans to promote the allocation of adequate resources in government budgets to support gender equality initiatives and GBV prevention programmes.
She noted that: “This summit provides us with a common platform to create awareness, exchange lessons learned, and promote effective strategies for preventing and responding to GBV and harmful practices.”
The UNFPA Officer-In-Charge of the Nigerian office, Mr Koessan Kuawu, on his part, said that family planning was not only a crucial health intervention but a cornerstone of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
He however lamented that in many communities across Nigeria, social norms drive misconceptions and cultural barriers, hindering the uptake of family planning.
He noted that Nigeria occupies a unique position globally in the pursuit of the Social Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 due to its vast population.
He, however, commended the government for its steadfast dedication to creating an enabling environment, through the passage and enforcement of critical legislation, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, and also the implementation of the National FGM Policy, National Child Marriage Policy, and state-specific action plans to eliminate FGM and child marriage.
He said: “These milestones have been achieved through persistent advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening the adoption and implementation of these laws.”
Kuawu noted that though eliminating GBV and harmful social practices was an immense task, it was not insurmountable, insisting that: “With the right resources, political will, and community support across the states, we can change the narrative for women and girls in Nigeria.”
On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Uju Ohanneye, advocated for stricter penalties for perpetrators of violence against women.
She noted that: “Overseas, where they are afraid to commit crimes or social norms or things that can harm another, it’s because when you do it, you face the consequences, legally and otherwise.
“However, here in Nigeria, when you have connection, before you know it, it dies a natural death and we forget so easily.
“So on this note, to support this program, we in the Ministry of Women Affairs will move forward to make sure there will be consequences if you commit a crime.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defined social norms are the unspoken rules or expected behaviour that set social standards of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in a specific culture or social group.
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mrs Beatrice Agba, said GBV encompasses various forms of violence directed at individuals based on their gender, often rooted in unequal power dynamics and societal norms.
Fagbemi noted that the practices “may unfortunately be attributed to the patriarchal and male dominance theoretical framework in place in our society.”
He said that the Federal Ministry of Justice was fully aware of the crucial role that the justice system plays in addressing gender and social norms issues through the provision of a framework for accountability, protection, and empowerment.
The Attorney General added that by upholding the rule of law, promoting gender equality, and advancing justice for all, the justice system could contribute significantly to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and just society for the present and future generations.
He said in addition to ongoing legislative reforms, the ministry was working with critical stakeholders to engage community actors such as traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, and informal community justice systems to address the notions and institutions that perpetrate violence against women and girls within the criminal justice system.
“We are initiating a pilot phase with the Area Councils in collaboration with area council chairmen in order to support ongoing dialogue and initiatives on this subject.”
Oluremi Tinubu, Governors Wives Sign Agreement to Stop Harmful Practices Against Women
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
By: Our Reporter
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reaching out to the government and people of Borno State regarding the latest insurgency attack in the State, Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be cowed by despicable acts of cowardice and a doomed attempt to undermine the collective peace of the nation.
Deploring the attacks, including the abductions in Ngoshe and the coordinated assaults on military formations in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, the Vice President reaffirmed that the administration remains resolute in its duty to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians.
In a statement on Saturday, Senator Shettima emphasised that the Federal Government is already deploying additional tactical assets and intelligence-driven reinforcements to the affected areas.
“The events of the past few days are a painful reminder of the shadow that persists, but let it be known: we choose light over shadow, and hope over despair. Our difference as a nation is the distance between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been briefed and has already directed a swift and total mobilisation of our security architecture. The Federal Government will not tolerate any sanctuary for those who seek to displace our people or occupy an inch of Nigerian soil,” he said.
The Vice President assured that the perpetrators of these beastly crimes would face the full wrath of the law.
He continued: “We are not just fighting a war. We are defending the very soul of our humanity against those who preach a toxic rhetoric of hate, and we will not be cowed by their gory acts.
“Our hearts bleed for the families in and the brave soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty. This administration will not rest until abducted citizens safely reunite with their families.”
VP Shettima commended the resilience of the people and government of Borno State under Governor Babagana Zulum and praised the gallantry of the troops on the frontlines.
“We remain one nation, tied to a common destiny. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable. This madness will be brought to an end, not with empty words, but with the decisive and overwhelming force of the Nigerian State,” he further assured.
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
By: Zagazola Makama
Two miners have been killed and five others injured following a clash at a mining site in Abare area of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Police sources said the incident occurred on March 5 at about 8:30 a.m. at a mining site in the community.
The sources said the crisis was triggered when a member of an outlawed vigilance group, locally known as Yan Sakai, allegedly stormed the site and attempted to enforce observance of the ongoing Ramadan fast among Muslim miners.
According to the sources, the suspect, identified simply as Kaura, allegedly arrested some of the miners, accusing them of refusing to observe the fasting period.
He was also said to have imposed compulsory levies on those arrested.
The action was reportedly resisted by some miners who objected to the arrest and the alleged illegal levies.
The suspect was said to have retreated from the site following the resistance but later returned with other members of the outlawed group and attempted to effect further arrests.
This led to a confrontation between the two groups, resulting in panic and tension across the mining site.
During the clash, two miners were killed while five others sustained injuries.
Security forces were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving the report.
The injured victims were taken for medical treatment, while investigations have commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible.
No arrest had been made as of the time of filing the report.
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised 45 suspected bandits during a fierce encounter in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation followed credible intelligence on the movement of bandits suspected to be operating across parts of Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara.
Among those killed during the operation were two top bandit leaders identified as Alti, said to be a nephew and second-in-command to notorious bandit kingpin Adamu Alieru, and another commander known as Damale.
The sources said the confrontation occurred after bandits riding on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Alhazawa village in Musawa Local Government Area on March 5, rustling cattle from residents.
Community members and some repentant bandits in the area reportedly resisted the attack, killing four of the bandits and recovering the stolen cattle, which were returned to their owners.
However, the bandits were said to have regrouped and returned in larger numbers on March 6, allegedly to launch a reprisal attack.
While moving toward Musawa through Maidabino A Ward, the bandits encountered troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Dan Ali, Danmusa LGA.
This led to a fierce gun battle during which troops overpowered the criminals and neutralised 45 of them.
However, the operation recorded casualties on the side of the military as three soldiers were killed during the encounter.
Further checks indicated that Alti had recently assumed a more active operational role within the bandit network after the death of his brother, Kachalla Dan Isihu, who was previously killed by security forces during counter-banditry operations.
Alti was said to have coordinated several violent attacks across communities, particularly along the Danjibga axis in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Security sources said troops had intensified operations in the area to track down other fleeing bandits and dismantle their networks.
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
VP Shettima To Insurgents: We Will Not Be Cowed By Attempts To Undermine Our Collective Peace
Two miners killed, five injured in clash at Zamfara mining site
Army troops neutralise 45 bandits in Katsina, including top bandit leader Kachallah Alti
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