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The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the protection and welfare of the girl-child, highlighting urgent issues related to education, health, and safety.
The upper chamber also urged state governments to domesticate and enforce the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, with a particular focus on eliminating harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.
The call followed a motion raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who drew attention to the challenges facing the Nigerian girl-child and the need for immediate government intervention to safeguard their future.
Senator Kingibe expressed concern over the prevalence of child marriage in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, where statistics remain worrying. She cited the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which revealed that over 44 percent of girls are married before the age of 18, with states like Zamfara, Bauchi, and Sokoto showing particularly high rates.
Several Senators voiced their support for the motion, which comes two days before the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11 each year.
