The Federal Government has instituted a ban on underage girls lodging in hotels, cautioning hoteliers nationwide against accommodating them and warning of potential sanctions for non-compliance.
Minister of Women Affairs, Honourable Uju Ohaneye, announced this directive on Saturday at the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony in Abuja. The measure aims to curb human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of Nigerian girls.
Hon. Ohaneye extended her warning to school proprietors, emphasizing the prohibition of bullying by both teachers and students.
The Minister’s statements follow the circulation of a video showing Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution. The girls, aged 15-16, were reportedly beaten, molested, and forced into prostitution without pay. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, noted that the girls were rescued following a tip-off by NIDO, the umbrella body of Nigerians living in Ghana.
In addition to the hotel ban, Hon. Ohaneye announced measures to prevent premature deaths by prohibiting hospitals from rejecting emergency patients.
“Women have been suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about allowing the poor to breathe in this country,” she said. “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.
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“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. (Otherwise) 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.
“And 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.”
This ban is a crucial step in the Federal Government’s efforts to protect vulnerable young girls and ensure their safety and well-being.
