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Human Rights Watch Requests Criminalization Of Child Marriage

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Human Rights Watch has advocated for the passage of the Child Rights Statute as soon as possible in order to avoid the occurrence of child marriages, citing a disagreement between the act and the constitution.

The international human rights organization said in a statement on Monday that child marriage was common in the country and among the highest on the continent due to a lack of enforcement by both the federal and state governments.

The statement read in part, “Although the federal Child Rights Act (CRA, 2003) prohibits marriage below age 18, the Nigerian constitution contains provisions which appear to conflict with this position.

“States with Islamic legal systems have also failed to adopt both the federal law and 18 as the age of majority for marriage. Some southern states which have adopted this position have failed to take adequate steps to carry it out.”

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in Africa, with an estimated 22 million children married before reaching adulthood.

With this figure, Nigeria contributes for 40% of Africa’s total number of child brides, with Niger having the highest percentage at 76 percent, followed by the Central African Republic at 68 percent, and Chad at 67 percent.

In the statement, Human Rights Watch found that child marriage was prevalent in Imo and Kano states, despite the former adopting the CRA in 2004. In the latter, the Act is waiting for assent from the governor after being passed into law in February 2021.

Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, Mausi Segun, urged the government at all levels to urgently align the CRA with existing laws to protect girls’ rights.

He was quoted as saying, “It is disturbing that almost two decades after the Child Rights Act was passed, Nigerian girls are still being forced into child marriages.

“Nigerian states should urgently act to adopt, implement, and align existing laws with the provisions of the Child Rights Act, which criminalizes marriage before the age of 18 and protects girls’ rights.”

The organization also noted that the Nigerian constitution contravened the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which put that age of 18 as an age that guarantees a child’s freedom from violence and other issues.

“Child marriage contravenes the Nigerian constitution as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirm 18 as the age of majority, and guarantee a child’s right to be free from coercion and violence and to get health care and education.

“There is an urgent need for Nigeria to harmonize its laws to conform to international legal standards to protect children from the marriage, Human Rights Watch found.

“The Child Rights Act should be adopted and put into practice by all states. The federal government and state authorities that have adopted the law should create a strong action plan to ensure the effective implementation of legislation and sanction non-compliance,” the statement read.

Segun, on the other hand, urged all states to strengthen their laws to protect the rights of the girl child.

“All states across Nigeria should strengthen laws and create effective systems to enforce them to guarantee the well-being and safety of Nigeria’s girls,” she stated.

BIG STORY

Lagos State Begins Strict Enforcement Of Styrofoam, Single-Use Plastics Ban Today

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In a bold effort to protect the environment and safeguard public health, the Lagos State Government has officially begun enforcing the ban on the sale and use of Styrofoam and single-use plastics throughout the state.

Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that enforcement takes effect from today, July 1, 2025.

“Many believed that after the last period of grace, the state government would succumb to blackmail and the spread of half-truths to extend the deadline. But this is a total no,” Wahab said.

He stressed that the decision is rooted in the government’s responsibility to preserve lives, protect property, and promote the overall health of residents.

“There is no going back. Anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the state’s environmental laws,” he added.

The ban seeks to address the environmental damage caused by non-biodegradable waste, which has been a major contributor to flooding, marine pollution, and public health issues in Lagos.

Residents, businesses, and food vendors are encouraged to switch to environmentally friendly packaging alternatives as part of the state’s ongoing campaign for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos.

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BIG STORY

Law Enforcement Agencies Benefitted From Petrol Subsidy Scam — Former EFCC Chairman Bawa

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Abdulrasheed Bawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says law enforcement agencies were among the beneficiaries of the petrol subsidy fraud.

In his latest publication, The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, Bawa revealed that Nigeria lost $450 million to the subsidy scam under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) between 2006 and 2012.

He noted that several oil marketers involved were prosecuted and jailed, with 80 percent of the embezzled funds recovered.

During an interview on Arise Television’s programme Prime Time, Bawa pointed out that many individuals tied to the fraud were compromised.

“Everybody was benefitting from the scale and the scam, including law enforcement,” Bawa said.

“People can be compromised in such a way that they will look the other way around. It’s a general thing.”

The former anti-corruption chief also urged Nigeria to push back against damaging external narratives, particularly the idea of “relooting” recovered public funds.

He argued that the country must reject the perception that it is involved in “relooting the loot”, a term used to describe alleged misuse of retrieved assets.

“Nigeria should be able to challenge the international community that is always thinking negative about our country,” he said.

“This idea of relooting the loot shouldn’t be discussed against us as a country. Nigerians and non-Nigerians should have the ability to trust in our leaders.”

Bawa further stated that Nigerians have increasingly accepted negative portrayals imposed by foreign voices.

“It has now become like a norm among us Nigerians to take in what the international community perceives us to be,” he added.

When asked about the repeated controversies surrounding EFCC chairs, Bawa dismissed suggestions of political witch-hunting but acknowledged the recurring pattern.

“It’s just a phase that has to come and go. People always talk. Whether you’re telling the truth or not, people will say something,” he said.

Bawa served as EFCC chairman from 2021 to 2023.

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BIG STORY

Reps Kick As Ibas Allocates N24bn For CCTV, N30bn For Gunboats In Rivers’ 2025 Budget

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The ad hoc committee of the house of representatives overseeing Rivers state has criticised Ibok-Ete Ibas, the state’s sole administrator, over certain allocations in the N1.48 trillion 2025 budget.

The senate had approved the N1.48 trillion appropriation bill for Rivers state on June 25.

A breakdown of the budget shows that N120.8 billion is designated for debt servicing, N287.38 billion for recurrent non-debt spending, and N1.077 trillion for capital projects.

At a budget defence session in Abuja on Monday, Julius Ihonvbere, the house majority leader and chair of the ad hoc committee, highlighted several concerns after reviewing the proposal.

Ihonvbere raised questions about the N24 billion set aside for CCTV, the N30 billion allocated for gunboats, and the N23 billion marked as contingency funds. He called for a full explanation and justification of these figures.

He noted that the budget lacked a medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), which is a statutory requirement.

Ihonvbere also questioned the state’s decision to finance federal projects without a formal reimbursement agreement from the federal government.

He requested detailed records of local government fund transfers, including how third-tier funds are currently managed.

“We need additional details for those allocations. We request details of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the last three months,” he said.

“That will enable us to know your financial flows so that we can weigh it against the deficit in the budget in terms of financing it and carrying out some of the projects.

“We also need details of transfers to local governments — essentially, how local government funds that came into the state are being managed at the moment.

“Those documents we have requested must reach us within 48 hours; rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.

“We want to ensure that we promote a lot of accountability and ensure that the interests of the people themselves, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected.”

Responding for Ibas, Andrew Nweke, senior special assistant on strategy and policy, explained that many of the budget items were inherited by the current administration.

He said the allocations align with the priorities identified by the people of Rivers, following assessments conducted by implementing agencies.

Nweke said the CCTV allocation was intended for installing modern surveillance systems at the government house.

He also said the gunboats were designated for supporting security agencies in patrolling the state’s waterways.

He added that the contingency funds would be used to address emergencies such as flooding and insecurity.

He assured the committee that the requested documents would be submitted.

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