The Federal Government, yesterday, expressed concern over increase in sale of babies in Nigeria and warned that those found guilty of the act would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Government said it has also completed arrangement to introduce a free toll line for children to report incidences of abuse against them.
President Goodluck Jonathan read the riot act at this year’s Children’s Day in Abuja.
The President, who was represented by Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the Federal Government was sad over the development and, was doing everything possible to ensure the menace was put in check.
He said: “Children are the greatest assets of any nation and the foundation on which the future of nations are built. They are the future leaders and so the best investment any nation makes on children, is worth making.
A girl offers her story book during a family visitation to mark Children’s Day at the Heritage Orphanage Home, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
“It is imperative to note that children are 100 per cent of our future and when we protect them, we protect our future.
“The administration is very much concerned about violence against women and children, especially, child trafficking, child battering and sale of babies which has become a daily occurrence in Nigeria.
To prosecute culprits of such act
“It is receiving attention of this administration and those connected with this ugly trend will be brought to book in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws.
“To ensure child protection in Nigeria, the Federal Government is establishing a child helpline to protect the rights of children. The project is to enable children in any kind of crisis to call a toll free number to find help.
“It will also provide information for research and analysis relating to various types and trends of adverse incidents in different parts of the country which could be utilized towards curbing the incidence of violence, exploitation and abuse of children.”
Meanwhile, representative of the United Nations Children, Education Funds, UNICEF, Ms. Jean Gough, in her goodwill message, said because children were the future of any society, it was imperative for all hands to be on desk to secure their future.
She said: “The children are the future and we as adults must do everything possible to secure their future.
We must protect children’s future —UNICEF
“Collective responsibility means all the community pulling together in support of the child. This recognition of the importance of the community in the protection of our children’s future is the way forward. “
10.5 million children out of school in Nigeria
At the highest level of this community is the government at all levels; federal, state and local. The governments should be truly committed to protecting the rights of children through policies and resources that would ensure their survival, development and protection.”
She lamented that 10.5m children were currently out of school in Nigeria, stressing that this was unacceptable.
“The number of Nigeria’s children who are not in school is unacceptable because we do have the resources to put them in school. At the last count according to the 2012 Education For All, EFA, Global monitoring report 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school. The current challenge in some parts of the north is exacerbating the situation. But we can put them all in school,” she said.
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