Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has said the Federal Government would no longer tolerate reports of underage girls being lodged in hotels across the country.
The Minister said the policy formed part of the precautionary measures to halt human trafficking.
Made on Saturday June 8 during an event in Abuja, the statement by the Minister of Women Affairs, came on the heels of a trending video of Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
The teenage girls were aged between 15-16 years.
Aside from a ban on lodging of underage girls, Ohaneye also said her Ministry was determined to stop premature deaths of Nigerians as hospitals would no longer be allowed to reject emergency patients.
”Women have been suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about allowing the poor to breathe in this country. Meanwhile I am sure you saw the video circulating about our girls taken to Ghana. Did you see it? Very good. Action will start on Monday. You will hear about our action first thing on Monday morning. That is the first I am going to approach and see what we can do about it.
“Nigeria must be better. From 20th (June), we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls. (Otherwise) what happened in Niger State will be an understatement to what will happen in the FCT and I mean it. No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools.
“And our hospitals will also put a sign of ‘No more rejection of emergency patients.’ These are some of the major issues we have in this country.”
