FG Bans Hotels from Lodging Underage Girls to Combat Trafficking

Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye

The FG forbids the hoteling of minor to combat human trafficking

FG takes bold step to combat human trafficking, bans hotels from lodging minors. Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, issues warning to hoteliers, directs them to display 'No Lodging of Underage Girls' sign. Action begins Monday.

A order from the Ministry of Women Affairs states that minors are not allowed to stay in hotels.

At the 'Unlock Training and Grants' ceremony in Abuja on Saturday, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, the Minister of Women Affairs, read the Riot Act.

According to the minister, the action is a preventative step to stop human trafficking, particularly involving Nigerian females.

The restriction comes after over ten adolescent girls who were trafficked to Ghana were recently rescued.

Kennedy-Ohaneye issued a statewide alert to hoteliers warning them not to host minors in their establishments, as noncompliance would result in penalties.

She ordered that a sign saying, “No Lodging of Underage Girls,” be placed outside of their buildings.

The minister issued a warning against student bullying by teachers and other students, as well as riot acts to school owners around the nation.

Additionally, the minister extended the riot acts to school owners nationwide.

“Women have been suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about allowing the poor to breathe in this country,” Kennedy-Ohaneye said.

“Meanwhile I am sure you saw the video circulating about our girls taken to Ghana. Did you see it? Very good. Action will start on Monday.

“You will hear about our action first thing on Monday morning. That is the first I am going to approach and see what we can do about it.

“Nigeria must be better. From 20th (June), we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls. (Otherwise) what happened in Niger State will be an understatement to what will happen in the FCT and I mean it. No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools.”

Kennedy-Ohaneye's Ministry pledges to reduce preventable deaths by ensuring hospitals treat emergency patients

“And our hospitals will also put a sign of 'No more rejection of emergency patients'. These are some of the major issues we have in this country,” she said.