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Poverty, neglect, leading causes of child abuse in Nigeria – Cleric
Against the backdrop of rising cases of child abuse in Nigeria, a cleric, Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwuanyi has identified poverty, lack of proper parental care and marital problems as leading causes of child abuse.
In his book entitled: “Psychological Interpretation of Child Abuse,” Mr Ugwuanyi identified the different forms of child abuse to include psychological, sexual, neglect, emotional and physical abuse.
The catholic priest maintained that child abuse was a social nuisance that should be confronted by parents, teachers, competent authorities and the government.
He stressed the need for government to prioritise issues on child abuse, adding that until the causes of child abuse were addressed, efforts to prevent them, would be futile.
‘’There is need to organise programs for parents in order to teach and draw their attention to the need for positive parenting and development of parenting skills.
“There is also an urgent need to curb child abuse at the official level, because child abuse is a social problem in Nigeria and as such, demands a legal intervention,” the clergy said.
He said that emotional and psychological abuses were more dangerous, noting that, not only because they were the least visible, but because they had long-term consequences in children.
‘’When one looks closely at the problem of low self-esteem, you find out that part of the problem is that, the abused children feel, they are not loved by their parents.
‘’Take for instance, sexually abused children, they frequently have extreme low self-esteem.
” They feel worthless, valued only as sexual objects and this affects them as they grow up because they feel unworthy and undeserving of positive attention and affection,” he said.
The cleric decried the seeming lack of concern by government, saying that special centres should be provided to attend to such persons because they usually required the services of psychologists.
‘’Permit me to inform you that the role of a psychologist is not valued in our country, Nigeria.
“People prefer to go to their religious leaders for most of their problems, forgetting that we have experts that treat such problems.
‘’Again, the government is not paying much attention to this very problem.
“No wonder on March 3, 2021 in Geneva, UN experts urged Nigeria to prioritise specialised rehabilitation measures for the hundreds of abducted children.
‘’ Left deeply traumatised after their release and to strengthen protection measures for those at risk.
” We need well-furnished rehabilitation centres in all states of the federation,” he said.
He further called on government and policy makers to ensure prompt implementation of laws to protect children.
The Clergy noted that there was a need to strengthen special courts that would dispense quick justice to those that usually subject children to such acts.
‘’It is important to remind the government that the law serves to protect the best interest of the child.
“They should use all the necessary means, especially the legal intervention in calling the abusers to order.
‘’Government should come up with strong legislation against all forms of child abuse and neglect in Nigeria,” Mr Ugwuanyi noted.
He however, said that, it was not enough to pass laws, but to ensure that such laws were executed and enforced.
NAN
Vehicular movement along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, staged a protest, demanding immediate return to their ancestral homes.
The protesters, believed to be victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the busy highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home”.
The protest caused disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded.
Eyewitnesses said the displaced persons, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded IDP camps, are expressing deep frustration over the government’s delay in restoring security to their communities.
“We have suffered enough. We want to return to our homes and farms,” one of the protesters told reporters at the scene.
Security personnel were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation, though tensions remained high as of press time.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and other relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has officially decided not to sell the Port Harcourt Refining Company.
NNPCL has, instead said it is committed to conducting an extensive rehabilitation of the facility and ensuring its continued operation.
During a company-wide town hall meeting held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, announced the decision regarding the future of the nation’s most significant state-owned refining asset, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
A statement by NNPCL reads, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has officially ruled out the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-grade rehabilitation and retention of the plant.
“The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery, before full completion of its rehabilitation, was ill-informed and subcommercial.
”Although progress is being made on all three, the emerging outlook calls for more advanced technical partnerships to complete and high-grade the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.
”Thus, selling is highly unlikely as it would lead to further value erosion.”
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeyemi Olumode, as the new Federal Fire Service, FFS, Controller-General.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday on behalf of the Federal Government by retired Maj.-Gen Abdulmalik Jubril, Secretary of the Civil, Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB.
Jubril said the appointment followed the retirement of the current Controller-General, Abdulganiyu Jaji, on August 13.
Jaji is retiring upon attaining the age of 60 by August 13.
Jibril further disclosed said that Adeyemi Olumode is qualified for the position, having attended and passed all mandatory in-service training, Command courses as well as other courses within and outside the country.
“He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having transferred his service from the FCT Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service and grown to the rank of DCG in the Human Resource Directorate of the Service Headquarters.
“He has served in various capacities and is equally a member/fellow of the following professional associations including Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.”
Benue IDPs block highway, demand return to ancestral homes
NNPCL reveals decision not to sell Port Harcourt refinery
Tinubu appoints Olumode Adeyemi as Federal Fire Service boss
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