Lack of data on violence against children major challenge to protection, development–Minister

Sen. Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Social development, said unavailability of data on violence against children was major challenge to government’s efforts at protecting the Nigerian child adequately.
She made this known during her visit to the Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya, on Wednesday in Asaba.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Binta Bello, said that she was in Delta on advocacy to stimulate collaboration between the ministry and the state in making laws for women and children.
She said that it was intended that such laws would provide for the survival, proper development, protection and participation of women, children and the elderly in the state.
She decried the increasing rate of violence in the country, especially child rape, defilement, battering, kidnapping and abandonment of children.
Alhasan, therefore, appealed to the assembly to make laws that would empower security agencies to prosecute perpetrators of violence against children, women and vulnerable people in the state.
She also urged the legislature to strengthen existing laws and make it compulsory for all children to access basic education.
According to her, education is one of the fundamental human rights of the girl-child provided in the Child Rights Act.
The minister said that girls were “our future and the Nigerian government is aware that empowerment of the girl child is part of the nation’s developmental agenda’’.
She stated that achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) could only be possible through quality education.
She suggested that the lawmakers should collaborate with the executive in implementing policies bordering on emancipation of women in the state.
Responding, the speaker said that the state had domesticated the Child Right Act since 2013, and that the government would ensure its implementation.
He said that the assembly was already working on a bill to prohibit all forms of violence against women, children and the vulnerable in the state.
According to him, the bill has already passed through first and second reading and is waiting for public hearing.
Igbuya also stressed the need for the diversification of the economy, adding that the country had depended so much on oil over the years rather than paying attention to other sectors.