Niger Government says it will establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres in the 25 local government areas of the state to deal with cases of gender-based violence (GBV).
Chairperson of the state GBV Advocacy Committee, Hajiya Mairo Man, said this on Friday at a sensitisation, held at Paiko General Market in Paiko Local Government Area.
Man said that Wife of the state governor, Dr Amina Bello, who is the Chairperson of the state GBV Management Committee, had given approval for the establishment of the centres.
According to her, the centres will avail the victims the opportunity of reporting GBV cases.
Man urged women to play their roles in preventing GBV by reporting such cases to the appropriate authority.
“GBV is not only about rape, men beating their wives or women maltreating their husbands, but it is about denying children of education and forcing them into early marriage,’’ she said.
In her remarks, Wife of Paiko Council Chairman, Mrs Teni Yohanna, expressed appreciation to the committee for educating women and men on GBV, adding that the campaign would complement the council’s efforts at reducing the menace.
“We have been sensitising our people to bring up their children in the fear of God and teach them good morals in order to reduce abuses,’’ Yohanna said.
Also, the District Head of Paiko, Alhaji Baba Mustapha, said that perpetrators of GBV should be dealt with appropriately, to serve as deterrent to others.
Mustapha pledged to support the committee in taking the campaign to other members of the community.
ALSO READ:An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Niger State, Alhaji Nma Kolo, has expressed optimism on the ability of the Acting Chairman of the party, Gov, Abubakar Bello, to organize and conduct a free, fair and credible National Convention of the party. Bello took over the leadership of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) on Monday in Abuja in an acting capacity from Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who is said to have travelled outside the country for medical check-up. Kolo, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Gov. Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday that his principal has the political capacity and capability to organize a transparent and acceptable convention. He said that the task ahead for all progressives is to ensure political maturity during and after the convention “that will take the party to victory in 2023”. Kolo explained that the successful inauguration of state chairmen of the party as well as adoption of the party zoning formula has created a successful platform for the party. “Gov. Bello has laid a concrete political foundation needed for our great party to sustain elective structures in the forth coming general elections. “The present political structures in place will pave the way for a smooth conduct of transparent convention that will usher in new leaders to lead our party to victory in 2023. “We already know him. We know his political capability as a very tolerant, humble, listening leader. All these attributes will make him succeed in the task ahead,” he said. Kolo urged Bello to remain focused and deliver the National Convention as promised to “excite our loyal party members and disappoint our opponents and critics,” he said. The party chieftain advised the CECPC to restrict access to the national convention only to those prescribed by article 12(1); sub-section I to IX of the APC constitution. Kolo also called on party supporters to continue to support and cooperate with the leadership of the party in its effort to reposition the party for optimal political growth.
Jummai Makama, who spoke on behalf of the women, said that with the sensitisation, they were now more enlightened and encouraged to speak out against gender-based violence.
