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Naomi Silekunola, the estranged queen of the Ooni of Ife, who is currently held at Agodi prison following the stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children in Ibadan, Oyo State, has reportedly gone on a hunger strike, according to her mother, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi.
Mrs Ogunseyi, who disclosed this in an interview with PUNCH, noted that when she visited her daughter on Thursday at the custodial centre, she wasn’t feeling fine.
"She wasn’t happy about the whole incident. She loves children. The queen loves and helps children, single mothers, old women, and widows. She is still in pain that those children lost their lives because her intention was pure."
The queen's mother explained that organising such kind of event to help people was what Naomi had been doing for years.
"She used to buy clothes for children at Christmas. She has emaciated in the custodial facility. She has refused to eat.
"When I was there yesterday (Thursday), I persuaded her. She still did not eat. The place was not comfortable for her. She was sad about the children losing their lives."
Mrs Ogunseyi appealed to Nigerians for intervention, noting that the incident was not intentional and was no way meant to kill anybody.
"We are just begging everybody. We’re begging Nigerians to help us. The people should help us beg Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in the matter. That’s all I need. We are also appealing to all Nigerians to help us beg the parents who lost their children at the event. We’re sorry. It was not intentional. We did not mean to kill anybody."
Regretting the whole incident, the Queen's mother said that she was ready to visit families of those people who lost their children and talk to them and sympathise with them.
"I am a mother, and I know what it means (to lose a child). I know how it feels," she said begging for clemency on her daughter.
Given some details of the matter, she said: "The queen is the brain behind the programme aimed at helping Nigerians. She has a foundation. With her foundation, she has helped women not only in need of material things or foodstuff but also those who needed guidance and support. Basically, my daughter runs a non-governmental organisation.
"She has been using this NGO to help the less privileged. She has organised this kind of funfair in different cities in the country, and she has been going from one town or city to another to celebrate the end of the year with children. She has done this in Akure, Ondo town, Ile Oluji, and many other places. So, this year, she decided to bring it down to Ibadan."
She added, "In all the events she had organised in the past, she always spoke to people on the ground in the town. These were the people who would tell her the necessary things to do. She could not do it alone and would approach people in the city or town to help in the organisation of the funfair. The same thing was applicable in the Ibadan funfair.
"As of the time she was planning for Ibadan funfair, some of her team members told her about Agidigbo FM. The queen was told about Mr Hamzat Oriyomi who would help to publicise the event. The reason was that she had not organised such an event in Ibadan before. They had never met before.
"We had earlier gotten a place in Moniya for the event, but Mr Oriyomi advised that the place was too small. That was how we got the venue we used at the Islamic High School, Basorun. It was a help that he rendered because he even paid for the place by himself.
"From our observation, the place was spacious enough to accommodate what we envisaged. We had held programmes in schools before; so, we agreed to use the venue Mr Oriyomi suggested. As I stated earlier, in all the events we had organised, including a teens’ crusade we had some years back, there was no casualty."
She further stated that on the eve of the event, when the queen came to Ibadan, she met with Mr Oriyomi for the first time. "She appreciated him for his effort in securing the venue of the event as well as the publicity. Unfortunately, on the day of the event, my phone was ringing with calls to make enquiries.
"They put my number on the flier of the event. People started calling me at around 4.30am. I was wondering why people called me at that time. They were asking if the event had been cancelled. I told them that the event would still be held.
"By 6.30am, I began to hear the news that the place was overcrowded. I was told that the premises had been filled up with the crowd. Some people were throwing their children over the fence. All of these led to the stampede which occurred.
"When we heard about this news, my daughter went to a police station to report the matter. We called the police, we called the army, and we called other security agents to inform them about the incident.
"Meanwhile, on the eve of the event, four security men came with us from Akure. We even asked the two of them to go to the field and sleep over there, because of the people who were decorating the venue. We also had two bouncers. It was at the station that my daughter was interrogated.
"We were thinking she would go back home but unfortunately, she was detained. Then, she was taken to the court. However, we were not informed the previous day that she would be taken to court the next day. Our lawyer wasn’t aware.
"So, that morning, we were told that they wanted to arraign her. She was taken to the magistrate’s court. At the magistrate’s court, the magistrate could not grant her bail because only the High Court would be able to grant her bail. The magistrate asked that the three of them: the queen, Mr Oriyomi, and the principal of the school be taken to the custodial facility."
The Nigeria Police Force, Plateau State Command has denied investigating the alleged stolen fund belonging to a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) owned by Martins Otse, the famous Nigerian social critic, who is popularly known as VeryDarkMan, VDM.
Recall that the social media critic had, in a video on Friday, claimed that about N180 million was stolen from the NGO’s account.
VDM, who claimed that a suspect was arrested in Jos Plateau State in connection to the alleged missing fund, said “somebody hacked into the NGO website” and went away with the money.
The video, which went viral on Friday, has continued to attract criticism from different quarters
When contacted by DAILY POST on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Command, Alfred Alabo said, “We don’t know anything about that. We are not investigating it. Kindly contact FCT Command to know if the matter was reported to them.”
The spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command also said they are “not aware of the matter”.
The spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command also said they are “not aware of the matter”.
President Bola Tinubu‘s significant steps in 2024 include signing several bills into law, each addressing critical gaps in the nation’s socio-economic framework.
In this article, Naija News highlights some of the major bills Tinubu signed in 2024, which span education, regional development and workers’ welfare.
1. Defence Corporation Bill: On Febuary 9, 2024, Tinubu signed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law.
This was made known in a statement by the former Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The Bill seeks to address the development and environmental concerns of host communities, and sets aside five percent of the actual annual operating expenditures of power generating companies (GENCOs) from the preceding year for the development of their respective host communities.
The Bill further provides that the funds set aside for the development of host communities will be received, managed, and administered for infrastructure development in the host communities by a reputable Trustee/Manager to be jointly appointed by the respective GENCO and their host community.
2. National Student Loan Bill: President Tinubu signed the National Student Loan Re-enactment bill into law in April.
The President signed the bill in a short ceremony at the State House on Wednesday in the presence of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The bill established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), designed to provide financial aid to students in tertiary institutions.
Initially introduced in 2023, the scheme’s implementation faced repeated delays before its relaunch in April.
3. ₦70,000 New Minimum Wage Bill: Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill 2024 into law in July.
The approval of the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, was a response to prolonged agitation from labour unions in the country. The legislation also mandates a review of wages every three years, ensuring that pay keeps pace with inflation.
Before the new minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) went on strike and shut down the national grid to press the government to meet their demands.
4. Returning Old National Anthem Into Law: President Tinubu, on May 29, approved the National Anthem Bill 2024, reinstating the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The bill sparked criticism at the time, with many Nigerians describing it as a distraction from the ongoing economic challenges facing the country.
5. Bill For Establishment Of Centre For Arms Control: On September 17, 2024, Tinubu signed the bill for the establishment of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
According to the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, the bill was a show of commitment by the President to curbing the proliferation of illegal arms.
6. North-west, South-east Development Commission Bills: On July 24, Tinubu signed the south-east and north-west Development Commission bills into law.
The commissions are responsible for managing funds for critical projects, including erosion control and road rehabilitation in the south-east and tackling infrastructure deficits in the north-west.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 13 passengers have died in a road accident along Owo-Ikare highway in Ondo state.
A statement on Saturday by Samuel Ibitoye, FRSC sector commander in Ondo state, said the accident involved a fabric-laden vehicle and a bus conveying 14 passengers.
“A total of 14 people were involved out of which 13 were burnt beyond recognition while only one was rescued alive with serious injuries,” the statement reads.
“Eyewitness accounts indicated that the bus coming from Ikare axis had a tyre burst which led to loss of control and a resultant head-on collision with the bus loaded with fabric coming from Owo axis. Immediately after the collision, the two buses went in flames.”
Ibitoye said FRSC personnel, police officers and firefighters “swiftly” arrived at the crash scene for rescue operations.
He said the injured victim was taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.
The sector commander advised drivers to “exercise patience on the roads and passionately maintain their vehicles while passengers are encouraged to speak out against dangerous driving because road safety is a concern of all”.
Nigerian award-winning singer, Tiwa Savage, has hinted at quitting the music industry after the release of her next album.
Naija News reports that the 44-year-old singer gave a hint via her Instagram story on Saturday.
Tiwa Savage said she now feels tired, noting she has done her best.
However, the ‘Koroba’ crooner did not reveal the title and release date of the next album.
She wrote: “This might be my last studio album. I am tired, I don try.”
Recall that Tiwa Savage rose to prominence after releasing her breakout single ‘Kele Kele Love’ in 2010.
She has since established herself as one of the most prominent names in the Nigerian music landscape. She has also earned global awards recognition.
Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage has spoken about the effects of the divorce from her ex-husband, Tunji Balogun, popularly known as TeeBillz.
Naija News recalls that TeeBillz announced their divorce in 2018 on social media.
However, in an interview with ‘The Receipts’ Podcast, Tiwa Savage accused TeeBillz of being responsible for the divorce, stating that she did not break up with him.
She explained that TeeBillz announced the divorce while she was still struggling with postpartum depression after the birth of their son.
Tiwa Savage also stated that it was heartbreaking how the public blamed her for the marriage breakup, adding she became ‘African Bad Girl’ afterwards.
Media
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, has clarified Governor Chukwuma Soludo‘s recent declaration of war on native doctors, stating that the move targets only “fake” practitioners involved in criminal activities, not genuine traditional healers.
The clarification came on Saturday following reports of panic among native and traditional doctors in the state after Soludo’s pronouncement during a recent function.
The governor had condemned the role of some native doctors in aiding criminalities, such as preparing charms for kidnappers and gunmen.
In a press statement, Mefor said the governor’s stance aims to sanitize the practice and expose those using traditional medicine as a front for illegal activities.
He emphasized that genuine practitioners of traditional medicine have nothing to fear, as the government recognizes their contributions to society.
He said, “For the sake of the unsuspecting public, I want to address the recent disinformation generated in some desperate quarters over Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s stance on native doctors.
“To set the record straight, Soludo never declared war on all native doctors but rather on fake and devilish native doctors involved in criminal activities.
“Concerned individuals and organisations have been investigating native doctors in the South-East and uncovered shocking revelations that reflect what Soludo is saying.
“Some native doctors are involved in preparing charms for kidnappers and armed robbers and are believed to be involved in evil practices that may not exclude human sacrifices for money and protection.
“These diabolical rituals have given rise to ‘Ego Mbute’, ‘Oke-Ite’ and ‘Yahoo Plus’ as well as idolatry, making a speedy return to Igbo socio-cultural life, Soludo, out of a sense of responsibility and responsiveness, has moved to root such diabolical and evil practices out, which have nothing to do with genuine traditional medicine or native doctors who are truly serving God and humanity.”
The commissioner said the governor has, therefore, emphasised the need to expose and deal decisively with native doctors aiding criminality, those promoting some esoteric practices alien to the Igbo culture of integrity, hard work, morality, and fear of God.
He added, “His stance is not a blanket condemnation of traditional medicine or all native doctors, but a targeted effort to root out those using so-called spiritual powers for criminal activities. They are misleading the youths and will turn the state into a soulless society if not stopped.
“The way forward requires greater clarity and understanding. We must recognise that not all native doctors are involved in criminal activities and that traditional medicine has a rich cultural heritage.
“So those genuinely practising the trade have nothing to fear from Soludo’s declaration. However, as we also acknowledge that fake native doctors are involved in criminal activities, they must be exposed and brought to justice as a way of sanitising the practice, rooting our criminality and preserving the state.”
According to him, the governor implores Ndi Anambra to work together with the state government to root out criminality and promote and uphold the culture of respect for human life, integrity, morality, hard work, and fear of God for which Ndi Anambra in particular and Ndi Igbo, in general, are reputed.
“Security is everybody’s business and not that of government alone. So, if you see something, hear something, say something,” the statement added.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has paid approximately N1.1bn as professional fees to prominent Nigerian lawyers, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and 23 other law firms over a period of three years.
This revelation emerged from an analysis of data provided by GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s expenditure.
The concept of professional services in legal practice encompasses various activities performed by lawyers within the scope of an attorney-client relationship. These include offering legal advice, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal matters.
Such services may also extend to transactional tasks like identifying potential legal risks in real estate or other business dealings, as well as negotiation, mediation, regulatory compliance, advocacy, lobbying, and risk management.
In July 2024, Babalola, Olanipekun and Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, collectively received N482.7m from the Federal Ministry of Justice.
A breakdown of the payments shows that Babalola was paid N372.9m on July 23 for representing the Federal Government in a court case registered FHC/ABJ/SC/8962/2023.
The other two senior lawyers, Olanipekun and Izinyon, were paid N103.6m and N6.2m, respectively, for providing similar services at different times. Olanipekun’s payment was made on July 26, while Izinyon received his fee three days later.
Further analysis of the Ministry of Justice’s records reveals that in 2022, no fewer than 17 lawyers received a cumulative sum of N359.7m as professional fees, while four lawyers were paid a total of N319.3m in 2021.
Among those who received payments in 2022 were Savannah Law Chambers, which was paid N17.4m; Lex Habitae, which received N21.8m; Rashida Mohammed & Co in Sokoto, which got N17.4m; and Abdullahi Haruna & Co, which also received N17.4m.
LDS Legal was paid N70.9m, while King’s Chambers and Iwuanyanwu & Co each received N15.7m. Sulaiman Salihu & Co was paid N31.4m in two tranches.
Other firms that benefited include Justice Solicitors & Attorneys, which was paid N15.7m; Pelican Legal, which received N15.7m; and Aderemi Olatubora & Co, which was paid N17.4m. Gboyega Oyewole of Lords and Temple Attorneys was paid N5.4m, while Savannah Law Chambers received an additional N29m.
Hanafi Mumini Ishola of Hanafi & Associates received N20.7m, Law Forte was paid N22.3m in two tranches, and Madyan Legal Consult received N24.8m in two tranches.
The 2021 payments included N174m to Mr. Chikwendu Madumere, N21.8m to LDS Legal, N21.8m to Olowolafe & Co, and N100.5m to Sulaiman Salihu & Co, disbursed in two tranches.
As part of their payments, Chief Afe Babalola paid a 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax amounting to N31m to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, while Wole Olanipekun paid N8.6m in VAT.
Both lawyers also paid a 10 per cent withholding tax of N41.4m and N11.5m, respectively, to the Ministry of Justice.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced that some policemen in Ogun State were arrested for demanding payment to facilitate the search for a missing seven-year-old girl, Mercy Akande.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed this information on Saturday.
Mercy Akande is the daughter of a female Point-of-Sale operator who went missing after allegedly being taken by one of her mother’s customers.
The incident occurred on December 23 and was shared on the X platform by Miyakee on December 25.
“My cousin is missing. She was kidnapped by a stranger on the 23rd of December, 2024. The mom, my aunty, does POS business at Sango, Ogun State. She has a male customer who usually comes to withdraw money and buy recharge cards,”Miyakee stated.
“He doesn’t stay in the area. He became friends with the little girl and was always buying her food and gifting her money whenever he came to the store. On the morning of the 23rd, he came to the store and bought food for himself and the little girl as usual. The mom was busy attending to other customers.
“He sent the little girl (a seven-year-old girl) to go get pure water for him. On her way back, he approached her halfway to get the pure water from her. The mom saw this and wasn’t comfortable with it but was distracted by the attention of other customers.
“By the time she turned towards the daughter’s direction to check what was happening, the guy and her daughter were nowhere to be found. They searched everywhere for them but to no avail.”
Miyakee reported that the family took the matter to a police station in Sango but was met with a demand for N40,000 from a police officer to cover the reporting and tracking fees.
In an update, Adejobi assured that the Ogun State Police Command is actively working on the case and is committed to finding the girl as soon as possible.
“Also, the policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and kept in detention for disciplinary action.
“We have condemned such an act, and we won’t tolerate it. It’s inhuman, apathetic, and unprofessional.
“We urge the family of the victim to work with the police on the case,” Adejobi said.
Nigerian actor, producer and director Afeez Olayiwola Abiodun who is professionally known as Afeez Owo has lost his father, Moshood Akanji Abiodun.
The movie star who is actress Mide Martin’s husband shared the heartbreaking news on Friday, December 27, revealing how saddened he is by the passing of his father.
Bidding him farewell in his post, Afeez Owo shared a bold photo of his father while eulogizing him. He wrote:
“Sad…. ????
Rest in peace Baba miii ??????.”“ERIN WO ? ?
Rest On Moshood Akanji ABIODUN.
Eku Baba Afeez Sun Re ooooo.”
The actor’s colleagues have flooded the comments with condolences. See screenshot of Afeez Owo’s post and reactions to it below:
Seyi Edun wrote, “My condolences sir
Adeniyi Johnson wrote, “Eku oro eyan Sir
Fausat Balogun wrote, “Rest in peace Daddy Popsy Tiwa
Adekola Tijani wrote, “Innah lilahi wahinnah ilehi rojihun. Baba take heart, May Almighty Allah grant Baba Aljanna fridaos
Okiki Afolayan wrote, “Eni re looo
Yemi Solade wrote, “On behalf of myself and my family, I express sincere condolences on the passing of your Baba. May God forgive his sins and accept his soul to rest in eternal peace. May God grant you and other members of your family the strength to beat the irreparable loss. Amen”.
In the same vein, just hours ago, popular actress Lola Alao announced the passing of her mother, urging her to rest in peace.
'Come Back Before He Takes Office‘ - U.S. Universities Warn International Students Of Possible Visa Issues Ahead Of Trump’s Inauguration
AFOLABI
While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is getting ready to return to the White House, universities across the United States are cautioning international students, including Nigerians, to remain vigilant about potential executive orders on immigration that could impact their status in the country.
“During the first four years of the Trump administration, a travel ban was imposed that impacted multiple countries, and resulted in many/some international students encountering difficulties re-entering the US to resume classes,” the University of California-Berkeley recently posted on its International website.
“Whether such policies will be implemented again and/or blocked by the courts or via other means is unclear. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending a return to the United States prior to January 20.”
Cornell University's Office of Global Learning issued a similar warning to students of a travel ban that “is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration”.
“The ban is likely to include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia,” a statement from the office said, adding that students, faculty and staff from these countries should be back in the US before the term begins on January 21.
Columbia University, the centre of the pro-Palestine protests that swept educational institutions across the USA in the spring also sent out a warning.
“As we do with administrative changes at all levels of government, Columbia is gathering relevant information on the incoming administration,” university spokeswoman Samantha Slater said in an email to the Columbia Spectator.
International students are advised to return to Columbia’s campus before this semester’s start date to avoid any potential travel delays”.
During his first term in office, Trump enacted a Muslim ban, which blocked citizens of some Muslim-majority countries from entering the US. Amid protests surrounding the Israel-Gaza war, he also vowed to revoke the visas of “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners” studying at US universities.
This, coupled with a growing level of anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Republican Party, has some international students concerned.
Mr Trump's platform on immigration, however, has focused primarily on stopping people from entering the country illegally. He said during a June interview with The All-In Podcast that international students “should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country”.
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.
According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.
Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.
Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.
“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.
He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?
“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike decl
The Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children in Nigeria Report has identified some of the reasons why 53.9 per cent of children in the country are multi-dimensionally poor.
The report, launched during the 2024 World Children’s Day celebration on Nov. 20, is a policy document prepared by the Federal Government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to identify and understand specific child issues.
According to the report, corruption, unemployment, lack of political will, violence and insurgency and inadequate investment in social sectors play significant roles in making Nigerian children poor.
It added that displacement and resettlement place additional pressure on existing resources, further exacerbating child poverty in Nigeria.
The report defined child poverty as “a situation where children experience deprivation of the material, spiritual and emotional resources needed to stay alive, develop and thrive, thus leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, achieve their full potential and participate as full and equal members of society.”
It stated that the seven poverty indicators for children are: health, water, sanitation, nutrition, shelter, education and information.
Explaining the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analysis, the report noted that across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disparities exist in the multi-dimensional poverty of children.
It added that “in Osun State, the incidence of poverty was lowest at 17.5 per cent, incidence of deprivation was 35.5 per cent and the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking was 14th in Nigeria.
“In Sokoto State, the incidence of poverty was very high at 89.9 per cent, incidence of deprivation was 50.4 per cent and the HDI ranking was 37 per cent.
“In Lagos State, poverty incidence was 27.8 per cent, incidence of deprivation was 36.8 per cent, while the HDI ranking was one per cent.”
The report indicated that when disaggregated by rural and urban, 29.7 per cent of urban children were multi-dimensionally poor against 65.7 per cent of rural children.
It added that children living in Sokoto State 80.4 per cent, Kebbi 74.9 per cent and Zamfara 74 per cent were worse off, experiencing the highest multidimensional deprivation.
“On the other hand, less than 20 per cent of children living in Edo (19 per cent) and Lagos State (17.3 per cent) were multi-dimensionally poor.
“Multi-dimensionally poor children living in Sokoto State deprived in 74.1 per cent of the total number of deprivations compared to 57.7 per cent of children living in Lagos.”
It said that households with higher number of members and/or children show higher multidimensional deprivation rates than smaller households.
It also implied that children in homes with uneducated household heads and/or mothers are more likely to be multi-dimensionally poor compared with children whose household heads attained secondary or higher education levels.
It stated that a larger proportion of children with illiterate mothers are multi-dimensionally poor than children with literate mothers.
“A striking case of multiple deprivations among children can be observed in the case of Almajiri children.
“These children are always on the move and are deprived of decent living conditions, good food and nutrition, water and basic sanitation, access to healthcare facilities, access to education and parental care.
“They are also deprived protection from violence and abuse, participation in decisions affecting their lives, and are often subjected to child labour and abuse.
“They are also taken advantage of during times of conflict and often obliged to carry arms.”
To ameliorate the situation, the report recommended that stakeholders should play certain roles.
It said that family and close caregivers should play crucial roles in alleviating child poverty and securing protection for children.
The report notes that children in poverty depend greatly on the existence of public healthcare, education and social services to develop capabilities and learn to function.
It added that these institutions and their programmes therefore must be inclusive and structured in an affordable and accessible way and be used by children who need them.
“Effective governance at all levels will ensure sound policy, equitable spread and judicious use of resources for investments that enhance household livelihoods, reduce poverty and foster the rights of children.
“Government needs to support families and households by providing minimum income that is sustainable to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from reaching their potential.”
SitAn was first published in 2022 primarily based on household survey data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2016-2017) and the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2018).
An updated version was published and launched in 2024 to support government’s efforts to shape policies and shift investment patterns to benefit Nigerian children. (NAN)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the commencement of its recruitment exercise, assuring Nigerians that the process is entirely free and fair.
The agency has cautioned the public to be vigilant against scammers who may attempt to exploit unsuspecting applicants during the recruitment period.
Applications are invited for positions in the Superintendent, Inspector, and Customs Assistant cadres as part of the Service’s plan to recruit 3,927 officers in 2025.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts.
“Our recruitment is entirely free and fair. At no stage do we charge fees. Anyone requesting payment is a scammer,” the agency emphasized, urging applicants to be wary of fraudulent schemes.
The NCS outlined eligibility criteria, stating that applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN), and have no criminal record or ongoing investigations.
Academic qualifications for the three cadres are as follows:
Superintendent Cadre: A university degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) along with an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
Inspectorate Cadre: A National Diploma (ND) or Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from an accredited institution.
Customs Assistant Cadre: At least an O’Level certificate (WAEC or NECO).
In addition to these qualifications, the NCS stressed that all applicants must be physically and mentally fit, providing evidence of medical fitness from a recognized government hospital.
The application process opens on 27 December 2024 and will close on 2 January 2025. Interested candidates can apply via the official recruitment portal at https://recruitment.customs.gov.ng.
The NCS reiterated its commitment to a transparent recruitment process and encouraged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity.
The Garun Mallam Local Government Area of Kano State has shut down the Kwanar Gafan Tomato Market allegedly turned into place of prostitution, adultery, homosexuality and other immoral activities.
It was reliably gathered that the alleged immorality being perpetrated by some youths and married women within the premises of the market prompted the local council authority to take the action to restore sanity at the market.
The Council’s Chairman, Aminu Kadawa, who confirmed the development, said all occupants in the market were given a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the premises or face the full wrath of the law.
He said: “Looking at how the market has become a centre for prostitution and other immoral activities contrary to the purpose of the market, it has to be closed indefinitely to restore sanity.”
The local government chairman added that a date would be announced on when the market will be reopened for normal activities.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Tourism and Management, Aisha Saji, who hailed the decision, said during her tenure as Commissioner for Women Affairs, she led a team of security personnel and Hisbah officials in a raid at the same market, where 43 individuals, including 34 females and nine males aged between 15 and 18, were arrested for prostitution and illegal sale of alcoholic substances.
“Shockingly, 14 of the arrested individuals were confirmed to be HIV-positive, with 10 aware of their status, while four were unaware.
“The suspects hailed not only from Kano, but also from neighbouring states, including Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue and Taraba,” she said.
The Commissioner further recalled that during her tenure she also wrote a report recommending demolition of the market for construction of a skill acquisition centre to address unemployment, among others, in the area.
“This closure should not just mark the end of immoral activities but also serve as a stepping stone for development.
“Establishing a skills development institution in this area will not only curb unemployment but also equip our youths with sustainable means of livelihood,” Saji emphasized.