The Nigerian Senate has urged the government to declare a state of emergency concerning the protection and welfare of the girl-child to address the educational, health, and safety needs of girls nationwide.
Additionally, the upper chamber has called on state governments to adopt and enforce the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, specifically focusing on eliminating harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.
These decisions were made following a motion presented by Senator Ireti Kingibe on the challenges faced by the Nigerian girl child and the urgent requirement for intervention by the government to secure the future of Nigerian girls.
Kingibe expressed worry about the prevalence of girl-child marriage throughout Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, citing alarming statistics. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), over 44 per cent of girls are married before age 18, with exceptionally high rates in states like Zamfara, Bauchi, and Sokoto.
Many Senators supported the motion just two days before the International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11th.