The Federal Government has mandated hotel owners across the country to display signs stating “No Underage Girl or Children Allowed for Lodging in Hotels” in their establishments.
Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs.) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, issued this directive during a meeting with stakeholders from educational institutions, hotel management, healthcare facilities, and Non-Governmental Organisations on Thursday. This was revealed in a statement by the ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Grace Njoku, on Friday.
The minister explained that this measure is part of broader safeguards aimed at addressing child abuse, sexual harassment, and related issues. She underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of women, children, and vulnerable individuals in society.
Kennedy-Ohanenye highlighted the necessity of the meeting, which provided an opportunity to devise strategies to combat the alarming rise in child labor, abuse, and sexual molestation. Expressing concern over the frequent harassment of children through bullying, she noted that such behavior negatively impacts their psychological and physical development, potentially hindering their ability to achieve their full potential as future leaders.
In addition to the hotel lodging prohibition, the minister unveiled other safeguards to be implemented in schools, hospitals, and other institutions. These include signs stating “No Bullying Allowed in Schools,” “No Sex for Grades,” and “No Rejection of Emergency Patients by Hospitals.”
To ensure swift justice for perpetrators of these crimes, Kennedy-Ohanenye announced plans to collaborate with State Chief Judges and Attorneys General to establish mobile courts, starting with the FCT, Anambra, and Osun states.
The minister called on stakeholders to rigorously enforce these new regulations to ensure the safety and protection of women and children. She also provided contact numbers for reporting breaches of these rules to facilitate legal action against offenders.
Participants at the Partnership Meeting included representatives from the Ministries of Education and Health, school and hotel owners, healthcare facility managers, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
