The Ministry of Women Affairs in Nigeria is set to enforce a new policy that prohibits hotels from lodging underage girls, aiming to curb human trafficking and exploitation.
This initiative, announced by Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye on Saturday at the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony in Abuja, follows the recent rescue of ten teenage Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
Kennedy-Ohaneye stated, “From June 20th, hotels will be mandated to put up a sign stating ‘No Lodging of Underage Girls.’ This action is crucial to tackle the menace of trafficking.”
The Minister underscored the urgency of the situation, referencing a viral video of the rescued girls and asserting, “What happened in Niger State will be an understatement compared to what will happen in the FCT if this is not followed. Nigeria must be better.”
The decision comes in response to an incident where ten Nigerian teenagers, aged between 15 and 16, were rescued from forced prostitution in Ghana. The girls had been lured with false promises of a better life. “They were helpless, picked up and sent to do prostitution, with the money collected from them by their trafficker,” described a Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) official in a video showing the rescue.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), detailed the operation, “The girls were lured from Nigeria to Ghana by a man who has since been arrested. Thanks to NIDO’s timely intervention, they have been rescued.”
Kennedy-Ohaneye also called on educational institutions to combat bullying, stating, “No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools. We will take decisive action to protect our children.”
The Ministry’s directive aims to prevent such exploitative practices and ensure the safety and well-being of minors across the country.
