News

Plateau Gender Commission Raises Alarm Over Surge in Child Trafficking, Rescues 177 Children in Two Years

Published

9 months ago

November 15, 2025

vicky

Gender Commission,Child Trafficking, School Sensitization Campaigns

The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (GEOC) has raised alarm over the rising cases of child trafficking across the state, warning that the situation has reached an “extremely disturbing” level requiring urgent, collective action.

Speaking during a press briefing to mark the Commission’s two-year anniversary in Jos, Chairperson, Barr. Olivia Dazyem, said child trafficking has become one of the most rampant forms of abuse threatening the safety and future of Plateau children. She disclosed that minors are now trafficked daily to major cities across the country and, in some cases, taken outside Nigeria.

Dazyem noted that the spike in cases prompted the Commission to launch an aggressive sensitization campaign across all 17 local government areas, targeting schools in the three senatorial zones. The outreach, she explained, focused on educating students on the methods used by traffickers, the dangers of child labour, and the value of staying in school.

“We chose to go directly to the students because they are the primary targets,” she said. “Some of the confessions and experiences shared during our engagements were shocking and heartbreaking. The threat is more widespread and more sophisticated than many people realize.”

177 Children Rescued, Trafficking Rings Disrupted

As part of its intensified operations, the Commission prevented 106 children from being trafficked and facilitated the return of 46 children already taken from their homes. GEOC also uncovered several cases involving the sale of babies and rescued 25 children from forced labour.

“These numbers show that we are confronting a severe national crisis with real consequences here on the Plateau,” Dazyem said. “Child trafficking is not just a crime—it is a violation of human dignity and a direct threat to our future.”

Community, Religious and Traditional Leaders Engaged

To strengthen vigilance at the grassroots, GEOC engaged religious leaders, women’s groups, community development associations and traditional rulers across the state. Dazyem said the engagements aimed to dispel harmful cultural and spiritual beliefs that indirectly encourage child exploitation, family breakdown and lack of parental responsibility.

“We visited churches and places of worship to preach the importance of protecting children and maintaining family unity. The response was encouraging, and many leaders pledged their support,” she added.

Capacity Building for Stakeholders

The Commission also trained social welfare directors, women development officers, mediators and information officers across the 17 LGAs on how to identify, document and refer cases of trafficking and gender-based violence. Journalists were trained on gender-sensitive reporting to improve public awareness and responsible media coverage.

Call for Stronger Community Vigilance

Dazyem urged parents, traditional rulers, security agencies and civil society to remain alert and report suspicious movements involving children, stressing that the fight cannot be won by the Commission alone.

“Child trafficking is a collective challenge,” she said. “The lives and futures of our children depend on how quickly we act and how committed we remain as a society.”

GEOC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding school outreach programmes, deepening partnerships with traditional institutions, advocating for stronger legal safeguards and collaborating with national and international organizations to combat child trafficking and related abuses.

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Mikel Obi Ends Swipe At Arsenal, Tips Gunners To Win This Season’s English Premier League Title

Published

1 hour ago

August 25, 2026

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WhatsApp Image 2025 06 09 at 7.09.11 AM.jpeg

Former Super Eagles’ captain, John Mikel Obi has takken a different turn from his usual critical comments against Arsenal of England, as he has now tipped The Gunners to win this season’s race in the English Premier League because they are ‘steady, stable and settled.’

Sports247 reports that the former holding midfielder, who was a key player in Arsenal’s fellow-London-based rivals, Chelsea, during his days in the EPL, was critical of The Gunners’ style en route to their conquest of the league last season, but he is talking in a different tone this time out.

Unlike when he slammed his namesake, Mikel Arteta’s side for relying on corner kicks and muscling tactics against their oponents during set peces, the ex-player took another look at The Gunners’ squad depth for the new season and concluded that continuity is the biggest asset that should give Arsenal the title again.

Mikel, who spoke to Flashscore during his visit to Ghana for The Obi One podcast, reckoned further that Arsenal’s biggest advantage in the new EPL campaign is a stable squad, built on the same array of quality players who are retained for the season under an unbchanged technical crew.

The former midfield enforcer, who also played for Stoke City and Middlesbrough, pointed out that, while several of their rivals have many new players and coaches, among several other changes, Arsenal have retained the core of their squad that won the EPL title last season.

“Arsenal, I think they will win because they are the team that is settled. They have had the same team for the past five or six years, and the same manager. He has built the team, he has built the winning squad, and now again he has added to that squad.

“I think they will get better and better. You can see City now, they struggle. Pep Guardiola has left, a lot of players have left, Rodri has gone. Chelsea have a new manager, Liverpool have a new manager, Newcastle have a new manager, Tottenham have a new manager, Manchester City as well.

“Manchester United still have a relatively new manager. When you put all of that into consideration, Arsenal are the team that is steady, stable and settled. I think that is something that is going to give them the advantage this season,” Mikel submitted.

Business

Nigeria Targets $21 Billion Investment in Landmark Bonga Southwest Deal

Published

2 hours ago

August 25, 2026

Preport

BYAGENCY REPORTERS —The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), and the OML 118 Contractor Parties — Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) — yesterday executed the Addendum to the OML 118 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and the Addendum to the Dispute Settlement Agreement (DSA), marking a major milestone in the advancement of the deepwater Bonga Southwest/Aparo project (BWSAp) towards Final Investment Decision (FID).

The execution gives effect to the fiscal and commercial terms approved by the Federal Government to support the development of BSWAp and it reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to creating a competitive, stable and attractive environment for large-scale deepwater investment.

The milestone follows the approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, an important component of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms to enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s deepwater sector and unlock new investment. The BSWA PSC and DSA Addenda demonstrate the practical impact of these reforms in translating policy into investment and project development.

BSWAp is expected to be one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater developments, with the potential to attract US$15 billion to US$21 billion in investment over the life of the project and achieve peak production of about 175 kbopd of oil and 140 mmscfd of gas. The development is expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy through increased oil and gas production, government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, local content development, employment and expanded opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

Speaking on the milestone, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said: “The execution of the BSWAp PSC and DSA Addenda demonstrates the effectiveness of President Tinubu’s reforms in translating policy into investment. This is about unlocking a major deepwater project and demonstrating that Nigeria has a competitive fiscal framework and a clear pathway for sustainable investment in its energy sector. NNPC Ltd will continue to work closely with the Federal Government, our partners and other stakeholders to ensure that this project delivers maximum value for the Federation and the Nigerian people.”

The Contractor Parties also announced the successful completion of the project’s Pre-Front End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) phase, marking an important milestone in maturing the technical and commercial scope of the development and positioning the project to progress into the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, subject to applicable partner, assurance and governance requirements.

Following a competitive selection process, a bidder has been identified as the preferred Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) contractor for the BSWA project, subject to completion of applicable partner, regulatory, assurance and governance processes. The selection provides a basis for progressing the FPSO concept into FEED and for undertaking the further engineering and commercial work required to mature the project towards FID. Any eventual award of the FPSO Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contract remains subject to the completion of all applicable approvals and requirements.

Once operational, BSWAp is expected to become one of Nigeria’s most significant new deepwater production hubs, contributing materially to national oil production and supporting the country’s ambition to sustainably grow oil and gas output over the coming years.

The project is expected to deliver substantial benefits to Nigeria through billions of dollars of investment, increased participation by Nigerian contractors and suppliers, and significant direct and indirect employment opportunities across engineering, fabrication, offshore construction, logistics and operations.

BSWAp is also expected to strengthen Nigerian content through increased contracting opportunities for indigenous companies, enhance local fabrication, marine and engineering capabilities, facilitate technology transfer and skills development, and create lasting value across the wider Nigerian economy.

The milestone reflects the strong collaboration among NNPC Ltd, the Federal Government, relevant regulatory agencies and the OML 118 Contractor Parties , and reinforces Nigeria’s position as a competitive destination for deepwater investment.

NNPC Ltd reaffirmed its commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance the BSWA project safely, competitively and responsibly, while maximising value for Nigeria and the Nigerian people.

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