Minister insists ban on lodging of underage girls stands

The Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has reemphasised the ban on hotels lodging underage girls as a measure to address rising cases of child abuse and molestation.

The minister, during an interactive session with hoteliers and CSOs in Abuja, warned that hotels caught lodging underage girls would be prosecuted. 

She urged the hoteliers to report such incidents, saying that there would also be a whistleblower policy for staff to report hotels who condoned such act.

She said, “There is an alarming rate of indecency growing in the country, which has to be stopped. Moving forward, hotels are instructed to mount a signage that reads, ‘No underage girls or children allowed for lodging’. Any hotel that fails to comply will be charged and brought to trial.”

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Addressing the issue of bullying, the minister issued new guidelines for schools which include confirming the presence of a teacher in every primary and secondary classroom; appointing four teachers to supervise children during outdoor breaks, and installing CCTV throughout school grounds.

The President of the Nigeria Hotels Association, Dr Patrick Anyanwu, commended the minister, saying, “All hotels will be issued a directive to strictly adhere to the new guideline or be prosecuted by the ministry.”