Fellow Nigerians,

1.     The 2020 celebration of Democracy Day marks 21 years of uninterrupted civil administration in our dear country. This day provides us an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements and struggles.

2.     It is a day to honour our founding fathers who toiled to establish our republic and every Nigerian who has worked tirelessly to sustain it.

3.     We are celebrating this year’s Democracy Day despite the COVID-19 pandemic which afflicts our nation and the whole world.

4.     It is indeed a very difficult time for everyone especially those who have lost loved ones to the virus and those whose sources of livelihood have been severely constrained by the stringent measures we introduced at every level of government to contain the virus and save lives.

5.     The dedication of our health and other essential services staff towards containing this virus is a testament of our courage and resilience as a people and as a great nation, and I use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.

6.     Sustaining our democracy thus far has been a collective struggle, and I congratulate all Nigerians and particularly leaders of our democratic institutions on their resilience and determination to ensure that Nigeria remains a shining example of democracy.

7.     In my 2019 Democracy Day address, I promised to frontally address the nation’s daunting challenges, especially insecurity, economy and corruption. I therefore find it necessary to give an account of my stewardship on this day.

8.     We have recorded notable achievements in the course of implementing our nine priority objectives and are establishing a solid foundation for future success.

9.     On the economic front, our objectives have remained to stabilize the macroeconomy, achieve agricultural and food security, ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, develop infrastructure, fight corruption and improve governance.

10.            We have witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth since exiting recession. The GDP grew from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019 but declined to 1.87% in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11.            Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline. Ours has been relatively moderate.

12.            In order to stabilize the economy, the Monetary Authority took steps to build the external reserves which resulted in improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market. The external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April 29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 which is enough to finance seven months of import commitments.

13.            Agriculture remains the key to our economic diversification strategy. The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilizers to our farmers. This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value chain.

14.            Government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports.

15.            Through the food security initiative, we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat What We Grow”. I am also delighted that more and more Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I assure you that government will continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.

16.            To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000 Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.

17.            We are also integrating rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.

18.            Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million.

19.            Africa presents a huge opportunity for our export base diversification and we are developing our strategy to grow intra-Africa trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

20.            Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.

21.            This development is due to the Visa on Arrival policy, consistent promotion of initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and payment system, seamless processing of business registration and reduction of cost of registering business by 50%. We are confident that on-going efforts would result in further improvement of this rating.

22.            We remain committed to expanding our mining sector. To this end, I have directed the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant based on Government-to-Government financing and a Public-Private Sector financing.

23.            With foreign and domestic investments and the participation of Small Scale Miners, we are harnessing the supply value chain in gold production.

24.            We would also be launching a fully digitized mineral rights management platform for quick processing of mineral rights application, digitization of records and plugging revenue leakages.

25.            The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through different strategies.

26.            We are executing some critical projects through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme including the:

a.     Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano;

b.     330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;

c.     Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;

d.     Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and

e.     Northern Corridor Transmission Project.

27.            Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs.

28.            On transportation, another critical sector to improving our economic competitiveness, we are growing the stock and quality of our road, rail, air and water transport infrastructure.

29.            Through the SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km road projects have been completed, representing 64%.

30.            The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge has been achieved. We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is 87.03% complete.

31.            Furthermore, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out of the 5,000km targeted.

32.            We are extending and upgrading our railway network too. We are introducing more locomotives, coaches and wagons for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line. The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe – Warri Line has been completed and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.

33.            The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.

34.            The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port are all ready for concessioning.

35.            Government continues to make investments in the Aviation sector to position it as a travel and trade hub in West Africa and the wider African continent.

36.            Airport Terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt are being expanded, while the rehabilitation of the Enugu Airport is almost completed. All our airports are being raised to international standards with the provision of necessary equipment, especially navigational aids, to guarantee world class safety standards.

37.            For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in oil and exploration and production business.

38.            We continue to grow local content in other areas of the oil and gas sector with the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers.

39.            With sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders, we have restored peace in the Niger Delta Region and maintained our oil production levels.

40.            The Head office of the Niger Delta Development Commission will be commissioned shortly. The Funding of sections I–IV of the East-West Road shall be pursued with a view to completing the project by the end of 2021.

41.            Furthermore, I am determined to ensure that development meant for the people of the Niger Delta get to them so I have authorised a Forensic Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

42.            Digital Economy continues to play an important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of Artificial Intelligence.

43.            Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been launched. Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G coverage by 30%.

44.            Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to quality education to enhance the productivity of its citizens and would continue to pursue the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of schooling.

45.            In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6 Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the Federation.

46.            In our revision of the operations of specialized education funds and to implement reforms that would optimize their benefits to the sector, we have adopted a Public-Private Sector Partnership for provision of infrastructure and also collaborate with the private sector to create jobs.

47.            Our pursuit of affordable housing for the low and middle-income earners has received a boost with the delivery of 1,200 housing units, provision of 520 service plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7 Billion. Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have been granted to 19,210 people.

48.            To enable sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the social, cultural, environmental and economic development needs of all Nigerians, we continue to expand our water supply, irrigation and dam facilities.

49.            The Completion of Amauzari, Amla Otukpo and other 42 Earth Dams with combined job creation of about 43,354 direct jobs and 71,172 indirect jobs, would provide more support for irrigation agriculture and water supply.

50.            To further institutionalize our effort in this regard, I signed the Executive Order 009 on Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria.

51.            In order to improve our forest cover and in fulfilment of my commitment at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, we have commenced the planting of 25 million trees. This initiative will also contribute to our effort to mitigate the effect of climate change.

52.            In the area of security, we remain unshaken in our resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

53.            Ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones.

54.            All the Local Governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes.

55.            The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities.

56.            I regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.

57.            I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected.

58.            As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created.

59.            Amongst others, Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the federation, resuscitated the National Public Security Communication System and commenced the implementation of the Community Policing Strategy.

60.            Government has similarly established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund as a public-private sector vehicle for alternative sources of funding security activities.

61.            To reduce security challenges through our external borders especially smuggling of oil products out of the country, inflow of small arms and drugs into the country and equally protect our local manufacturers, we introduced operation “Ex-Swift Response” closing our borders from August 20th 2019, and have considerably succeeded in meeting its objectives as well as improving our national revenue.

62.            Our Government has continued to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology and improved information.

63.            Our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations and has engaged 549,500 N-Power beneficiaries, 408,682 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and 2,238,334 beneficiaries of the Growth Enhancement and Empowerment Programme. This is being done in collaboration with the States.

64.            Similarly, “Marketmoni” and “Tradermoni” Programmes have provided affordable loans to small and micro scale enterprises to grow their businesses. Under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, over 9,963,729 children are being fed to keep them in school and improve their nutritional status.

65.            Fellow Nigerians, the year 2020 has been like none other. In January 2020, the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The number of global infections has risen from less than 8,000 shared between China and eighteen other countries to over 7million spread over 216 countries and on all continents.

66.            Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 27th 2020 and within the first 100 days, I have had cause to address the nation on three occasions within one month, which underscores the gravity of this pandemic.

67.            There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain not only as your President but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends.

68.            In order to have a robust National response, I approved a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide.

69.            State Governments also constituted their own COVID-19 Task Forces.  Complementing this was the establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre responsible for providing technical and professional guidance in the National Response.

70.            The overall objective of the PTF COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus.

71.            The impact of the pandemic has disrupted our economic system and to ensure its functioning while still addressing the spread, the Federal Government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.

72.            As part of the strategy to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on our youths, I directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians. These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced.

73.            I receive regular briefing from the PTF on COVID-19.  I note that the National Response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions. This informed my approval for the ease of lock down phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods.

74.            I am confident that the steps being taken by the PTF would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility.

75.            Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.

76.            Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19.

77.            Government has continued to implement accountability and transparent policies through the Open Government Partnership and the transparency portal on financial transactions. Similarly, we have strengthened auditing and accountability mechanisms so as to ensure that rules and regulations are followed strictly.

78.            Anti-Corruption Agencies have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds in excess of N800 billion. These monies are being ploughed into development and infrastructure projects.

79.            The Public Service of Nigeria remains the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in the country. This accounts for why it continues to evolve especially as new socio-economic challenges emerge for Government to address.

80.            I will continue to give all the necessary support for the on-going reforms designed to return discipline, integrity and patriotism as the hallmark of the public service.

81.            In the face of dwindling resources and rising cost of governance, I have authorized that the White Paper on the Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies be reviewed for implementation.

82.            Our youth population remains a source of strength in achieving development objectives. In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of the nation.

83.            The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering. Government recognises their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.

84.            Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and for this reason this Administration has continued to give them a place of pride in the affairs of our country.

85.            I salute your courage, enterprise and resilience as well as your contributions to national development. I wish to assure all our women of this administration’s determination to fight Gender Based Violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation. I am particularly upset at recent incidents of rape especially of very young girls. The Police are pursuing these cases with a view to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to swift justice.

86.             Government continues to recognize and harness the power of the media for positive development. The reforms of the broadcast and advertising industries including digital switch over and continuous engagement through town hall meetings remain central to accurate and credible information dissemination.

87.            Our culture provides the basis for our existence as a people and a nation. In preserving iconic aspects of our national culture, this government has been pursuing the recovery of artefacts removed from Nigeria, promoting heritage sites and festivals and working towards designating some of our heritage sites as UNESCO World Heritage Centres.

88.            This administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be governed by the Rule of Law and I would do my utmost to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

89.            Government has initiated a number of policies and programmes designed to promote the legal rights of Nigerians, facilitate the institutionalization of a responsive legal system, provide support to all constituted bodies in implementing their mandates and improve our custodial system of justice.

90.            The National Assembly has been an important partner in our quest to sustain our democracy and achieve our development objectives.

91.            I therefore greatly thank the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their invaluable support at all times.

92.            I will also like to convey our deep appreciation to members of the Press for your doggedness in the struggle for attainment of democracy since the beginning of our nationhood.

93.             I must admit that the relationship between the media and successive governments has not always been perfect. But there is no denying the fact that you have been an effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. It is sad that in the course of securing our democracy, some of your colleagues have had to pay a heavy price.

94.            We will continue to guarantee freedom of the Press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech, fake news and other unethical professional conduct.

95.            Fellow Nigerians, as we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, let us remember that, notwithstanding our aspirations, humanity and indeed democracy is under the threat of COVID-19. Nigeria has survived many crises before and came out stronger. I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one and emerge stronger and more purposeful.

96.            Thank you for listening. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he N780bn shared by Federal Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC) among the three tiers of government hits a record-high for 2020 in April, even as disbursements in the prior month fell below the estimated minimum threshold for the federal and state governments to meet their obligations amid the pandemic crisis.

The amount is 34% higher than what was disbursed in March, and the highest in at least seven months. A halt in the decline of FAAC brings relief to Nigeria’s 36 states and FCT which rely on revenue shared for around 80% of their monthly income on the average.

The FAAC disbursement is augmented by Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to run government discharge such obligations as salary payments. Under the FAAC arrangement, revenue generated from sales of crude oil, Value Added Tax (VAT), corporate tax, etc. are shared among all three tiers of government based on a formula.

FG takes 52.68%, states share 26.72% and the local governments take 20.60%, with 13% derivation revenue for oil producing states, but the dwindling oil revenue occasioned by the Russia/Saudi Arabia oil price war and Covid-19 crisis has had a direct impact on the FAAC receipts.

Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed in April said that monthly FAAC receipts must average at least N650 billion for the federal and state governments to meet their current obligations.

The amount disbursed in April but generated in March comprised of N478.18bn from the Statutory Account, N119.50bn from Excess Oil Revenue, N120.27bn from Valued Added Tax (VAT) and N62.98bn from Exchange Gain Differences.

Federal Government received a total of N264.33bn from the N780.93bn. States received a total of N181.49bn and Local Governments received N135.95bn.

The sum of N54.29bn was shared among the oil producing states as 13% derivation fund. Revenue generating agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) received N6.09bn, N10.20bn and N5.74bn respectively as cost of revenue collections.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, further breakdown of revenue allocation distribution to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) revealed that the sum of N202.94bn was disbursed to the FGN consolidated revenue account; N4.70bn shared as share of derivation and ecology; N2.35bn as stabilization fund; N7.89bn for the development of natural resources; and N5.78bn to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The improvements in monthly disbursement notwithstanding, concerns about the fiscal health of states remain on the front burner since Nigeria’s revenue from oil sales is expected to fall 80% to N1.1trn in 2020.

In its monthly bulletin, the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) noted that FAAC for the month of May fell 22.37% to N606.2bn on sharp declines in oil revenues, petroleum profit tax, import and export duties, corporate income tax and VAT.

June FAAC  is projected to drop to N500bn, a further decline below the minimum disbursement for states and FG to support their monthly expenditures.

Already several states in the country including the FG have cut their 2020 budgets in the light of new realities caused partly by COVID-19 lockdowns across the world and an oil price war between March and April.

The decision of OPEC+ to cut oil production by around a tenth of global supply has supported oil prices. Brent is currently trading more than $10 above Nigeria’s new budget benchmark of $30 per barrel.

The NBS breakdown of the federal allocation to states and LGAs between January and April 2020 is as follows:

1 Delta: ₦87.26b
2 Akwa Ibom: ₦74.33b
3 Lagos: ₦70.83b
4 Rivers: ₦70.20b
5 Kano: ₦55.73b
6 Bayelsa: ₦54.03b
7 Katsina: ₦41.82b
8 Kaduna: ₦39.25b
9 Oyo: ₦37.46b
10 Borno: ₦36.85b
11 Jigawa: ₦34.73b
12 Niger: ₦34.34b
13 Imo: ₦33.79b
14 Sokoto: ₦32.20b
15 Edo: ₦31.44b
16 Bauchi: ₦30.79b
17 Benue: ₦30.59b
18 Kebbi: ₦30.07b
19 Anambra: ₦29.95b
20 Kogi: ₦28.53b
21 Adamawa: ₦28.47b
22 Enugu: ₦27.87b
23 FCT: ₦27.53b
24 Ondo: ₦27.50b
25 Yobe: ₦27.29b
26 Abia: ₦26.54b
27 Taraba: ₦25.34b
28 Osun: ₦24.09b
29 Ogun: ₦23.60b
30 Plateau: ₦23.52b
31 Kwara: ₦23.49b
32 Zamfara: ₦23.48b
33 Ebonyi: ₦22.58b
34 Nasarawa: ₦22.47bb
35 Cross River: ₦21.99
36 Ekiti: ₦21.83b
37 Gombe: ₦20.35b

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he history of Rape almost equaled the history of man’s creation. Multiple Records of the first recorded incidence of rape in the Bible was also in the Book of Genesis.

Unarguably, biblically, rape was a constant feature among men and at a point it was taken as a thing of shame not on the victim but on the family of the master of the person raped.

In Nigeria, the offence of rape is a heinous offence and the drafters of the Criminal Code created window for life imprisonment upon conviction.

Culturally, it is an offence which stands on the same pedestal with the offence of murder since a suspect accused of rape is expected to go into hiding while his people make efforts to cleanse the shame on the face of the family of the rape victim.

Despite all these, the offence of rape in Nigeria seems to be on the increase and the question on every lip is, what is the cause?

Does it mean that the punishment stipulated for it in the extant laws is no longer heavy enough to deter would-be rapist or are there factors which ostensibly offer more incentives for rape than the risk of its punishment?

It goes without saying therefore, that if the offence of rape will be on the increase instead of on the decline, certainly the legal system in Nigeria is not doing what it is expected to do.

It has become habitual that anytime we Tune on our information sets the trend is unknown behavioural news breaking faster than the speed of a triggered bullets piercing the targeted objects.

Everyday greater percentages of women live in abject fears of anticipated attacks from either sexual harrassment, abuse or rape of some sorts perpetrated by some losed men who can bearly control their sexual urges.

For Sexual immorality, the age variance is no longer tied to below thirty years but grandfathers have also been mentioned in the forbidden act.

The reoccurring decimal of the scourge is tearing apart the originality of the Societal decodence and everyone seems to be looking for permanent ways to abate it.

The Society needs to be awake to it responsibility beyond those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting life and property since they have either become overwhelmed or subjected to act the script of their paymasters.

Despite ascribing rapes as a violation of the most demeaning kind that produces fear to many victims for life, it prevalence in the country is no more a surprise because those saddled with the responsibility of providing protective measures have obviously created a society that permits the seemingly strong to seek ways to exhibit their superiority over ‘weaker’ people.

Therefore, rape may become a more blatant manifestation of a deepened deviation from our social mental factors governing a situation or activity.

Rapes have become a rising culture in our restive Society breaking fabrics of gate locks.

It is however permissive saying that, when positive means of personal identification and legitimate expression are suppressed, the devil is empowered.

The simple truth is that, no sane society should condone rape which regrettably, is fast becoming a social epidemic, with children now successive victims of the growing bestiality.

Over the years, we have seen pathetic sights in hospitals of some minors whose urinary and rectal passages have been ruptured so that they are uncontrollably leaking urine and faeces.

Although surgical operation may repair such injuries, then, most mothers whose daughters are victims cannot afford such health interventions.

By so doing, many homes are left with several vulnerable underage girls who are permanently damaged for life.

In the aftermath of a sexual assault or rape, survivors can face extremely difficult and painful emotions and experiences with every survivor responding to traumatic events in their own way.

The effects of the trauma can be short-term or last long after the sexual assault or rape.

The unpleasant death of a University of Benin female undergraduate, Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, has renewed the several calls to ward off all attempts allowing the menace to continue to perforate the halo values.

Seemly the assault has brought to limelight, once again, the issue of gender-based violence in the country.

However, Groups have assembled across the country to protest unanimously against the ‘allienic’ crusher seen as worst than the pandemic spread of Covid-19 in recent times.

In the time past, angry Nigerians have taking to the street demonstrating their frustrations why successive Governments have maintained a mute in openly prosecuting offenders with higher penalties to stermoff it occurrence.

Another organized number of protesters on Friday stormed the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja, police commands in Lagos, Ibadan, Jigawa and Edo states, where the rising spate of rape, sexual violence, assault against women and incest in the country have become predominant.

Key in their agreements and demands was the declaration of state-of-emergency on gender-based violence in the country.

Domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Child Rights Act in all states of the federation.

“Establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) in every state, backed with a coordinated, sustainably-funded support system”.

“Criminalisation and prompt state-led prosecution of SGBV cases within, regardless of requests or interference by the victim’s family or interested parties; Implementation of functional Family Support Units and Force Gender Units at the state level that are well equipped to address SGBV cases”.

“The imposition of public disciplinary measures against officials of the Nigeria Police and state Prosecutors that mishandle cases of SGBV”.

The protesters who demanded justice for the rape and killing of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, Bello Barakat and other victims in the country, called on the police and other security agencies to devise effective strategies to checkmate the rising cases of sexual assault in Nigeria.

Such acts of sex-related violence are not only perceived as barbaric but criminal, as the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said during the week while highlighting the case where 14 men allegedly gang-raped a 12-year-old girl in Jigawa State.

In Edo State, Government has assured the parents, relatives and friends of late Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, as well as the student community in the State of thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the 100 level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

In a recent call by the Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, Hon. Maria Edeko, gave the assurance when she addressed protesting students, who stormed Government House, Benin City, to register their displeasure over the gruesome murder of the undergraduate.

She assured that the Police has been mandated to fish out, arrest and prosecute the masterminds of the heinous crime.

She said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is resolute in ensuring the perpetrators of the crime are made to face the full weight of the law,

She noted that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law has been domesticated in the state to deal with such crimes.

According to her, “On behalf of the governor, I express deep pain over this incident. We are saddened over the matter because the deceased represents the old and the young. In this age and time when so many persons do not even think about studying, Vera Uwaila went to the church to read.

Her death is disheartening, more so that the heinous crime was committed in a sacred place of worship.”

Edeko added that an Edo State Government delegation has visited the family of the deceased student to
commiserate with them and extend the governor’s deepest condolences.

Spokesperson for the protesters, Stephen Uzochukwu, urged the state government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure justice is served for late Vera Uwaila Omozuwa and other persons who are victims of rape and violence.

Sex crimes have attracted national attention over the past weeks after the high-profile rape and murder of Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old first year student of the University of Benin.

The Jigawa State Police Command also announced the arrest of 11 men who had, at different times and on many occasions, allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl.

This was then followed by the rape and murder of Barakat Bello, 18, at the home she shared with her family on Monday, June 1.

Many Nigerians have called for stiffer penalties for rapists, as well as the faithful implementation of current laws

In a dramatic session in the lower chambers of the national Assembly, A majority of the members of the House voted against another member’s recommendation to castrate rapists.

James Faleke, representative of Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos, made the recommendation during plenary on Thursday, June 4, 2020. The recommendation comes on the heels of strings of vicious sex crimes that have attracted national attention over the past weeks.

Rotimi Agunsoye, representative of Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos, raised a motion of urgent public importance on the need to condemn the rising cases of sexual violence and other social vices against women, including police brutality.

However, The Senate has also initiated moves to actualise capital punishment for persons convicted for rape.

At its plenary recently, the Senate said that the need for stiffer penalties including death sentence for anyone convicted of rape-related offences, was imperative.

The senators warned that the rising cases of rape of minors and infants must be taken seriously by the federal government with majority of them canvassing death sentence.

They argued that stiffer penalties on rapists of minors and infants in Nigeria would help curb the menace.

The Senate came to the position following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Rose Oko (PDP, Cross River North), entitled “Rising incidences of rape of minors.”

After considering the motion, the Senate directed its committees on Judiciary, Police Affairs, Women Affairs and Social Development, when constituted to interface with the relevant stakeholders in order to evolve ways to enhance the enforcement and implementation of all legislations and policies aimed at protecting minors from rapists and other forms of violence.

The Upper House also directed the aforementioned committees to review the relevant legislations with a view to providing stiffer penalties against sexual abuse on infants and minors in the country.

The offence of rape in Nigeria was an isolated incident. It occurred once in a while and when it did it was greeted with incredulity and surprise.

However, despite the fact that the offence carries a life term imprisonment, it has now become a daily occurrence in Nigeria.

It seems that the law as it is, is incapable of deterring the naked and raw urge to subdue and abuse a woman.

There exists a conspiracy of silence whenever the offence of rape is committed.

It is this conspiracy of silence in relation to rape that all must seek to unravel with a view to pointing out the areas where the law appears to be encouraging the offence.

The criminal justice system encourages the crime of rape in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the fear of stigma (or persecution) discourages victims of sexual violence from formalising the reports of incidents involving them.

Many of the policy briefs of the National Crime and Safety Survey have always depicted how prevalent sexual violence is, as well as the fact that our society seems to be living in denial about this crime.

The conclusion is that victims of rape hardly lodge reports for fear that their cases would not be treated seriously, that they would be stigmatised or that corruption would hinder effective investigation.

To fight the menace, a point of safe, protective and comforting recourse must exist for victims of sexual violence to address their immediate needs as well as to enable them summon the courage to pursue the ends of justice. While diligent prosecution and swift and exemplary sanctions would certainly send a strong signal to the perpetrators to desist, the media remains a necessary partner in sustained efforts to curb these wanton acts of evil.

While human rights violations of this nature occur everywhere in the world, as the sick, the evil and the deranged exist in all societies, the only manner in which citizens can feel safe and secure is where the response to crime is swift, efficient and effective.

That is what the current situation demands from the relevant authorities. We must all be ready to stand up to fight this menace which violates the dignity of minors and women.

It is therefore important a need for the review of the law on rape in Nigeria to expand the definition and make it an offence for both sexes.

Moreso, the process of the trial of a rape offence should be reviewed. The State should make provisions for the victims of rape and provide counselors for them.

Hospitals especially general hospitals may be designated as rape test centers and the employment of nurses or other health care providers to render assistance.

Furthermore the state should set up special courts to try offences of rape and where possible in camera to protect the virtues or dignity of the victim.

Prosecution for the offence of rape should be wholly state sponsored and the victim should remain what she is in law and that is a witness.

It is my thinking that if these measures are adopted, the rising incidents of rape
may be reduced.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ugly tale of taboo and atrocities inside the revered palace began early in August 2016. You could call it a shameful and indeed tragic drama in Idumuje-Ugboko Royal Theatre. The distinguished and indeed venerable king, His Royal Majesty, Obi Albert Nwoko III, JP, MON, was still alive. But now in his late 90s, he had become weak and inactive.

His son, Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko was shockingly acting as de facto king according to Palace insiders. This, for the folks, was an abomination as no one could play king while the Obi still lived. But Prince Nonso as he is widely known was not ready to allow social custom to impede his vaulting ambition. He received all messages meant for the Obi and acted on them without consultation with the Chiefs that formed part of the Obi’s cabinet.

Tension was mounting. Prince Nonso was increasingly displaying desperation according to these Palace insiders. And this did not come as a surprise to the indigenous people of this forestry village. Nonso’s mother according to them is from Ubulu- Uku and you cannot be king of Idumuje-Ugboko if both of your parents do not hail from this rustic village.

Nonso’s frustration cum desperation is worsened by the hard fact that he had other siblings whose mother is from Idumuje-Ugboko. These are Prince Stephen Uche and Princess Sharon Chidinma Nwoko in addition to their four other siblings. They are Nonso’s half brothers and sisters from Queen Ifeoma Nwoko, their mother, the second wife of Nonso’s father who hails from Idumuje-Ugboko. This therefore makes Uche a bonafide contender for the throne in line with Idumuje-Ugboko tradition.

However, despite the palpable tension especially after the violence unleashed on Ugboko by suspected supporters of Prince Nonso, Prince Uche confessed that he had a good relationship with his elder brother, Prince Nonso, until early in August 2016 when his sister went through a terrible experience in the Palace. At this point, he beckoned on the sister to opened up to this writer.

On that fateful day according to Princess Chidinma, Uche’s younger sister, she was in her room in the palace as it was night time. The palace was bustling with youths who troop in and out.

“I was lying down on my bed when I heard a deafening bang on my door. And about three or four boys burst into my room. I couldn’t see them well because it was night”, she said. Before she could scream they descended on her with slaps and blows. Weakened and blind folded, she passed out as they crudely violated her innocence. And she was only 15. A minor.

Over five hours later when she opened her eyes, everything looked surreal and bizarre. “It was like a nightmare until I tried to stand up”, she added. “I felt an excruciating pain. I couldn’t raise my feet”, she said recalling the horrific pain.

But she felt even worse pains between her legs. Every part, inside and outside her womanhood was terribly bruised. She was horrified. It finally dawned on her that she had been raped, gang-raped.

The question then is who and who could have perpetrated this heinous crime? Prince Uche responded. In his words, “we do not know all of them because there is a whole lot of drama going on. Criminals being shielded and protected. But they are people I call friends of the palace. How could they gain access to my sister’s room if they had no access to the palace. And the only person that decided who came into the palace was my senior brother, Nonso”.

What irked Uche all the more however was the handling of the rape incident. There was no serious attempt to investigate the crime and punish the culprits. According to him, his little sister bore the pain, the psychological trauma and the humiliation alone.

Chidinma was sneaked into St. Joseph’s Hospital at 142 Nnebisi Road, Asaba. Her Registration Number 3688/16 and Records show that little Chidinma underwent an Abnormal Scan test at the Ultrasound Scan Centre of the hospital on August 9, 2016. Her laboratory report form with Laboratory Number 2078 also indicated she had a second test on August 17,2016.

While Chidinma grappled with physical, emotional and psychological ordeal, no serious steps were taken by Prince Nonso to arrest the culprits to face the full weight of the law. As an American trained lawyer, Dr Ikechukwu Nweze puts it, this is in gross violation of Section 24 (E) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 59(1) of the Criminal Procedure Cap C 22 of Delta 2006.

He stressed that the seeming passivity, if not cold complicity of the Palace, still violates Section 88 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which enunciates the duty of every citizen to report crime to the Law Enforcement Agencies.

“Prince Nonso as an elder brother to a minor whose life, spirit and whole being were crudely violated did not take any concrete steps to redress this reprehensible criminality by some outlaws against his little sister, going by the evidence at my disposal”, said an irritated Dr Nweze.

“Instead they set up a ludicrous secret family meeting, brought out one of the criminals and ridiculously fined him four live goats plus N100,000 which was allegedly the cost of Chidinma’s medical treatments”, Dr Nweze lamented.

Elders of Idumuje-Ugboko, responsible adults, men of integrity stood with mouth agape and in dizzying shock at the way a monstrous and satanic gang rape perpetrated against a minor was being shabbily and disgracefully handled.

“We had never seen that kind of injustice in Ugboko”, said a man who doesn’t want to be named. “We are honourable people with strong sense of justice. And our king was a man of proven integrity. He didn’t know what was going on at that time and his son Nonso, a terrible young man, didn’t allow anyone to see him. He blocked every access to the Obi. All he was waiting desperately for was for his father to die so that he could usurp the throne because he knew too well that by tradition, he would never be crowned Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko”, he stressed, his voice carrying acoustics of fury.

But one man that could not stand Prince Nonso’s betrayal of his own blood, took Chidinma’s case to the police and pronto two of the mindless rapists were arrested.

There was jubilation in Ugboko. But alas, an influential Prince Mbanefo Nwoko went to the police. There, he like a pathological liar, told the police it was a family affair, a consensual romance gone sour but was being amicably resolved. By this singular act, the once much respected Prince Mbanefo became an ugly symbol of shame according to some of the distressed village women.

The International Federation of Female Lawyers waded into the matter and two vicious members of the savage rapist gang were arrested and charged to the Magistrate Court, Issele-Uku. Since then however, there’s been a worrying silence.

“But this is one evil act, one despicable case that civil society organisations and women groups in this country must not allow to die unceremoniously”, said Chief Chris Ogu, a veteran journalist, the Iyase, traditional Prime Minister, who performs the ritual of coronation for a new king. “They must demonstrate eloquently that the weak and vulnerable also deserve justice in this country”, he said.

The king, HRM Obi Albert Nwoko passed on in 2017 and since then little Chidinma, her mum and six siblings have been yanked off, thrown out of the palace according to sources, as Prince Nonso crowned himself king without the Iyase, Odogwu, the traditional war Lord and other eminent chiefs of the Palace. The throne is now a subject of litigation in court with three Claimants, Prince Nonso, Prince Uche and Prince Solomon Nwoko.

It took the intervention of one noble scion of Ugboko royalty, Prince Ned Nwoko, to save the Queen and her children from homelessness.

He gave them a decent accommodation and scholarship to all the seven children with three of them presently in the University.

This same Prince, a business magnate and International Lawyer described by many of the Ugboko men and women as humane and extremely kind is the brain behind the STARS University under construction in Idumuje-Ugboko, an institution that he remarkably gave 40% of the shares to the village, the Idumuje-Ugboko community because of the land the village provided and for which he still paid some huge money to farmers who initially cultivated the land.

“It is also a well established fact that his foundation, Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, has awarded scholarships to hundreds of students of Idumuje-Ugboko and Nigerian students irrespective of tribe or religion, students in secondary and tertiary institutions both in Nigeria and abroad”, said Prince Walters Eziashi, a former President-General of Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union.

Despite this crystal show of altruistic love for his people, Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko’s relationship with Prince Ned Nwoko, his cousin, remains anything but amiable.

A man of about 60 years of age who gave his name simply as Peter ventured reasons for this strained relationship. Hear him.

“My brother, the simple reason is that Nonso wants to be the Obi of our village at all cost. And a man of substance and integrity like Ned will never support him because he knows it will be a taboo and an evil act against our culture and tradition.

“Nonso’s father had to marry a second wife from Ugboko before he could be crowned king so that that wife will give us a Prince to succeed him. That was because we wanted to avoid succession crisis.

“Nonso knows he cannot be a king because his mother is from another village. It is the same tradition that you find in Ubulu-Uku. If your father and mother are not from Ubulu-Uku, you can’t be their king even if you are the first son of the king.

“Even Prince Solomon Nwoko is more qualified than Nonso. His grand father and Nonso’s grandfather were the same parents and both of Solomon’s parents were from this land.

“Anyway, the case is now in court and we will leave the judiciary to do their job. However, we know those that cannot be king of our Idumuje-Ugboko. What we may not know is who will become our Obi.

“But let me assure you, even if Nonso’s sponsors give him one billion dollars, he cannot buy Prince Ned neither will he buy the Iyase nor the Odogwu, the highest ranking and most prominent chiefs in this village. He knows he is just wasting time in the palace. But let the court decide and we will accept the judgement”, he concluded.

No question, time ticks for Idumuje-Ugboko. Will it bring justice for Princess Chidinma? And triumph for her brother, Prince Uche, their siblings and their mother, the Queen? Will it usher in the awaited peace in Ugboko?

In the timeless words of Martin Luther King Jnr, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter “.

Culled from PM NEWS