FG imposes ban on lodging of underage girls in hotels 

FG imposes ban on lodging of underage girls in hotels

The Federal Government has announced a ban on the lodging of underage girls in hotels across the country. The ban, which takes effect on June 20, 2024, was announced by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, in Abuja on Saturday.

The minister also warned hospitals against rejecting emergency cases they are equipped to handle, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing the issue.

The announcement was made during the graduation and grant ceremony of the ‘Unlock training programme,’ organized by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education, Madam Abiola Arogundade.

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The event saw the presentation of certificates and a N500,000 grant to each of the 120 participants who won the best business plan. The purpose of the programme was to boost the potential of the participants for economic development.

The minister’s statement comes after a video circulated showing Nigerian girls being taken to Ghana. She assured that action would be taken on Monday and urged Nigerians to use social media to raise awareness about the issue.

The minister also called on hospitals to treat emergency cases, saying that any hospital that rejects such cases would be called out on social media.

In attendance at the event were some ministers, members of the House of Representatives, special advisers to the president, and other dignitaries.

The move is seen as a step towards addressing the issue of child trafficking and exploitation in the country. The government’s commitment to addressing the issue is evident in the minister’s statement, and the ban on lodging underage girls in hotels is a positive development in this regard.