National News
President Tinubu Demands Stiff Enforcement Of Child Protection Laws

President Tinubu Demands Stiff Enforcement Of Child Protection Laws
- Launches national action plan on violence against children
- Hints at creation of child protection and development agency
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria, with a call for stiff enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws that guarantee the safety, dignity, and future of Nigerian children.
He outlined practical steps being taken by his administration to achieve this, including the establishment of a dedicated Child Protection and Development Agency, launch of the Universal Child Grant to reduce household poverty and children’s vulnerability; creation of a National Child Protection Database and a Child Well-being Index, to track the government’s progress and uphold accountability.

The President stated this on Thursday during the first regional meeting of the Africa Pathfinder Countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Tinubu who was represented at the event by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, declared his administration’s commitment to “establishing a dedicated Child Protection and Development Agency to ensure coherent coordination of all issues relating to the Nigerian child.”
The president noted that while each day comes with a reminder of the dreams of Nigerian children, the conditions into which they are born, and whether these conditions protect or betray them, are also critical issues to ponder.

He said, “Our legal frameworks reflect our conviction. From the Child Rights Act to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Nigeria has laid down the statutory foundation for the protection of children. But legislation alone does not shield the vulnerable—it is the will behind those laws, and the systems that enforce them, that make the difference.
“That is why our national strategy also embraces prevention and early intervention. We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.”
President Tinubu assured that relevant government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, are armed with the required training and resources to spearhead the protection of the Nigerian child across all levels of government, even as he maintained that it is a crusade for which sincerity and honesty are required.
“But we must be honest with ourselves. We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability.
“The real hope lies in action—concrete, deliberate action. Our commitment must run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health systems. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy,” he stated.

To ensure stiff enforcement of child protection laws in Nigeria, President Tinubu said his administration is “strengthening existing institutions and laws, and launching national campaigns to promote awareness and drive behavioural change.”
The President underlined the importance of the first regional meeting of Africa’s Pathfinder Countries under the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children, pointing out that “it breathes new life into the bold declarations made at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children held in Bogotá.”
Earlier, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children, Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, urged African leaders to move beyond commitments and implement concrete actions to protect children from violence and exploitation.
Dr M’jid also charged delegates to the meeting and other participants to focus on peer learning, effective strategy sharing, and collective actions in addressing common obstacles to ensure child protection efforts are sustainable in Africa.
On her part, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted the country’s commitment and the progress made since the Ministerial Conference in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is strengthening legal frameworks, scaling up the Safe Schools Programme, expanding parenting interventions, and increasing budgetary allocations to child protection systems.
“Through our renewed national child policy framework now under review, and our adopted National Strategy and Costed Action Plan to End Child Marriage in Nigeria, we are laying the foundation for more accountable, inclusive, and data-driven action,” she said.
In separate remarks, the heads of delegation to the regional meeting from Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso, stated the recommitment of their various countries to the global alliance to ending violence against children as declared in Bogota in November 2024.
They presented progress reports from their respective countries, commended the leadership provided by Nigeria and urged all stakeholders to be intentional about ending violence against children and not to pay lip-service to the programmes and policies designed to actualise the objectives.
Also present at the meeting were the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Laila Jibrin Barau; Minister of Women, Family and Children from Cote d’Ivoire, Hon Nasseneba Toure; Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare from Zimbabwe, Edgar Moyo; Minister of Gender and Children Affairs from Sierra Leone, Hon Isata; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Nigeria, Dr Maryam Keshinro, and representatives of development partners and heads of agencies, among others.
President Tinubu Demands Stiff Enforcement Of Child Protection Laws
National News
NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador

NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador
By: Michael Mike
The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Natawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as its ambassador.
The appointment was made in Jos, Plateau State as part of activities to commemorate the National day of Older persons.
This significant appointment which was on the sidelines of the 6 day medical outreach organized by the Centre in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction recognizes Professor Yilwatda’s unwavering dedication to humanitarian service, poverty alleviation, and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens.
According to a statement, as NSCC Ambassador, Yilwatda will serve as a key advocate for the rights, dignity, and well being of older persons across Nigeria.
The statement read: “His leadership and commitment are expected to drive impactful initiatives that promote healthy, active, and inclusive aging, in alignment with the NSCC’s national mandate.
“The NSCC looks forward to a fruitful partnership with Professor Yilwatda in advancing policies and programmes that uplift and empower the elderly in our communities.”
NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador
National News
Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil

Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the agency is not averse to the controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil to countries who desire it but remains opposed to its local consumption.
Speaking at a stakeholders workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa said the dialogue on cannabis oil is a welcome development.
He said: “At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests, or global trends. Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety. This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence, and weigh options carefully.
“Let me assure you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we insist on is caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen—not weaken—our fight against drug abuse. As such, the agency will not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it, as part of our drive as a country to enhance foreign earnings. After all, some countries have approved the use of cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes while others including Nigeria have not.
“Our concern however is about its consumption in Nigeria. In essence, we are not opposed to the idea of exporting the oil to those who desire it but such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones.”
Explaining further the position of the agency, the NDLEA boss said the conversation is necessary because “we are talking about Cannabis, which is not just another plant. It is a substance with complex medical, social, and economic dimensions. For decades, the debate has been one-sided. Advocates often highlight the supposed benefits of cannabis oil, while its risks and consequences are glossed over. This, no doubt informs the decision by us at the NDLEA to commission an ongoing study on cannabis oil by this respected apex body of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.”
He added that: “In a country like Nigeria, which is already contending with a high burden of drug abuse, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety, clarity, and balance. Till today, much of the public debate highlights the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis oil and the commercial value of its export. What about the risks? Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people. The prolonged or uncontrolled use of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In addition, dependence and addiction are real concerns as well. In reality, these side effects create additional social and economic costs for families, communities and society at large.
“Another fundamental issue that we must take cognisance of is that the lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries means products sold as “cannabis oil” often vary in potency, contain contaminants, or are misused outside of medical supervision. Already, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide. For a country already grappling with 14.4 percent substance abuse prevalence rate as against the global average of 5.6 percent and a staggering figure of 10.6 million cannabis users based on the last drug use survey report of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot be dismissed. Rather, the reality should remind us that while cannabis oil may have medical potential, its dangers are real and must be addressed with strong safeguards before any policy shift is considered”
He said as part of efforts to mitigate the consequences of illicit drug cultivation and production is the decision by the agency, as the first in Africa, to introduce alternative development project in 2023.
According to him, “The Alternative Development Project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses to mitigate drug-related problems and end the complexities and violence of the war on drugs in Nigeria and globally. In Nigeria, the Alternative Development Project will focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of ignorance, poverty, hunger, unemployment and underdevelopment that push people into illicit economies, particularly illicit drug cultivation. Aside from its link to transnational organised crime, illicit drug cultivation fuels national organised crime that causes agricultural states to abandon food crop cultivation for cannabis plantations in some communities across Nigeria. We intend to reduce these vulnerabilities both in urban centres and rural areas through the provision of functional mechanisms and facilities for sensitisation, skills acquisition, empowerment and positive engagements for sustainable livelihoods.”
In his welcome remark, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Abubakar Sambo who was represented by the Vice President of NAS, Prof Friday Okonofua noted that several research studies have considered various uses of cannabis and its side effects. He said the workshop was aimed at reaching a consensus on the contentious issue of the use of cannabis oil.
“At the end of the day, we’ll have evidence-based consensus work, which will be properly documented that will lead us to decide what we should be doing regarding the use of cannabis in this country”, he stated.

Chairman of NAS study committee on cannabis oil use, Prof Musbau Akanbi commended NDLEA for being proactive and working with the Academy to obtain science driven guide for Nigeria. “As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from cannabis and the legalisation of the use of the oil would translate to large-scale cultivation of the weed itself. The Nigerian Academy of Science consequently constitutes the consensus study committee on cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request. The committee collected a lot of literature on the subject matter from all over the world, reviewed what is happening in other lands, and decided to arrange this workshop where experts from various related fields will come together with stakeholders and present evidence that will be collated to assist NDLEA in carrying out its honest responsibility.”
Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Samuel Adekola who represented Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state noted that “this all-important workshop will offer our great country, Nigeria, the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policies and I urge all participants to contribute constructively so that together we can rise to craft a model that not only benefit the consumers of health, also the sunshine state and Nigeria, but also position our nation as a leader on the African continent in this emerging field. Let us proceed with vision, with courage, and with unity of purpose”
In his keynote address, the Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oye Gureje, stated that cumulative evidence suggests that “cannabis has some limited medical use”, and “widespread recreational use is likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis”, while “public health may be moderately affected by increased use (e.g. road accidents)”
Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil
National News
Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms

Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms
By: Zagazola Makama
Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has dismissed as false, baseless, and hypocritical the recent claims by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore alleging “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.
Makama said the Congressman’s remarks were nothing but an orchestrated attempt to exploit religion as a political weapon, while disguising the real agenda to deny Nigeria access to weapons and military hardware needed to defeat terrorism.
This entire narrative of so-called Christian genocide is not only false but deliberately crafted to cripple Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity. The same terrorists who attack churches also bomb mosques and kill Muslim villagers. They are not fighting for faith they are fighting against peace,” Makama said.
He noted that Moore’s claim of 7,000 Christians killed in 2025 was not supported by any verifiable evidence or credible international monitoring body, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or even the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, which maintains real-time intelligence on Nigeria’s security situation.
“If the U.S. Embassy in Abuja with its vast intelligence network has never classified the violence in Nigeria as religious genocide, then where exactly did this Congressman get his statistics from? Certainly not from facts,” he said.
Makama said it was deeply disturbing that individuals in the U.S. Congress could be misled by propaganda designed to portray Nigeria as a country at war with its Christian population, when in fact, victims of insurgency and banditry cut across all religions and ethnicities.
He warned that blocking arms sales to Nigeria under the guise of human rights or religious concerns would directly strengthen the terrorists and make the U.S. Congress complicit in the killings they claim to condemn.
“When you deny Nigeria weapons to fight terror, you are helping the terrorists who get theirs through illegal back channels. That means the so-called human rights defenders in Congress are aiding mass murder by ensuring that innocent civilians remain defenceless,” Makama stated.
He also reminded the U.S. lawmaker that earlier this year, Washington itself admitted that American taxpayer money through USAID had found its way into the hands of terrorist-linked organizations in the Sahel, yet no one has been prosecuted.
“So before pointing fingers at Nigeria, the U.S. should first look inward. Their own agencies have admitted to indirectly funding terrorists, and yet, they continue to lecture other nations about accountability,” he said.
Makama described the Congressman’s statements as a dangerous attempt to sow religious division and mislead the international community into viewing Nigeria through a sectarian lens.
“Nigeria’s security crisis is not a Christian-versus-Muslim war. It is a fight between lawful citizens and violent extremists. Any attempt to twist it into a religious war is dishonest and deeply irresponsible,” he said.
He added that countless soldiers and civilians of both faiths have sacrificed their lives in defence of the country, and their bravery should never be undermined by political actors seeking to weaponise faith for foreign agendas.
“Those who peddle this false narrative are not friends of peace. They are knowingly promoting religious hatred and helping the enemies of Nigeria by trying to cut off its access to essential defence support,” Makama said.
He called on international partners to rely on verified intelligence, credible data, and first-hand reports from reputable organizations rather than politically motivated fabrications designed to damage Nigeria’s reputation.
“If the U.S. truly stands for global peace and religious freedom, it must stop empowering propaganda that fuels division and weakens nations fighting terrorism on the frontlines,” he concluded.
Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms
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