By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, has engaged 50 community leaders to help curb the prevalent cases of child abuse in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas of Kaduna.

The Executive Director of the Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, Mrs. Grace Samuel while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday at the sensitization program held in Kaduna, said safeguarding children in various communities is a collective responsibility.

Grace noted that the sensitization program was part of the PLANE initiative to curb the prevalent cases of child abuse being implemented in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas, respectively.

” One of the key challenges we have observed was the absence of children in school during harvest season, where they go to farm just to make quick money at the expense of their education.

” You know there are different levels of child abuse. We have issues of physical abuse, which sometimes we see teachers in classrooms holding Cane, there are things we don’t allow,” Grace stated.

She further explained,” We have emotional abuse which is very common in schools and our communities, noting emotional abuse has to do with derogatory words on children.

” What we’re doing today is sensitizing the parents and stakeholders to avoid such things, and we also have the other side of neglect, which is very common here in the North, where you will see a child staying for a whole day without food.

” Also, sexual abuse of all kinds, rape which is the most prevalent. These are some of the things that we’re also sensitizing the key stakeholders so that, in turn, they’ll trickle down these messages to their various communities.

“Finally, we’ve exploitation, using children to make a profit. You will see parents; instead of working and providing for their families, they, in turn, send their children to hawk or beg to bring the proceeds home. There are many other things they do in this aspect of exploitation.

PUNCH reports that the event brought together Education Secretaries, Local Government Executives, and traditional government Agencies to reflect on their activities in child safeguarding and aim to strengthen the efforts of relevant stakeholders on preventive measures.” she said.

The Director, Social Development, Soba Local Government Area, Aisha Zarma, said most families avoid reporting cases of child abuse particularly rape cases because of stigmatization.

” But we have continued to engage and sensitize them on the need to know is their right to report such cases and get justice.

” We have a special unit in the Local Government where we handle such cases and we have been doing excellently well.” She concluded.

Beneficiaries of the New Nigerian Newspapers, associated with the Northern States Governors Forum, have expressed their deep frustration over the prolonged issue of unpaid benefits totalling N2.1 billion. As of January 2025, the death toll of members awaiting these payments has tragically reached 106.

A statement issued by Alhaji Sadiq Tela on behalf of the Elders Forum, and Friday Sule for the Joint Union of the New Nigerian Newspapers, highlights that “following the recent out-of-court settlement between the Northern Governors and Albert Iweka and Co, which was ratified on 27th November 2024 by the Federal High Court, expectations have soared due to the extreme poverty exacerbated by the delay in these benefits.”

It is worth noting that Barrister Iweka and Idi Sule, both former employees of the New Nigerian Newspapers, had previously taken the Northern Governors to court over the payment of check-off dues. They successfully secured a garnishee order that froze the account of New Capital Properties Limited (NCPL), where the proceeds from the sale of NNN assets were held.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the New Nigerian Beneficiaries, the case was eventually dismissed, and all previous garnishee orders were vacated, with all parties duly settled except for the New Nigerian Beneficiaries,” the statement emphasised.

The statement further lamented, “More than 100 days have passed since the resolution of this decade-long court battle, yet all New Nigerian Beneficiaries who served the 19 Northern Governors continue to suffer in silence, overwhelmed by pain and despair.”

However, the workers have praised the current Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna for providing some relief through strategic discussions with the Northern Nigeria Development Company and the Northern Governors’ Secretariats. “These efforts are comforting, but in light of the harsh economic realities, the over 800 beneficiaries who have nearly 10,000 dependants are left in tears,” they added.

The statement reiterated, “The Northern Governors, led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, possess the authority to shape the futures of nearly 1,000 New Nigerian Beneficiaries.”

“We take this opportunity to implore our Northern Governors’ Forum to extend their support, as the death toll of NNN beneficiaries awaiting payment has sadly risen to 106 as of January 2025.”

“In the spirit of Ramadan, we beseech our Northern Governors to show compassion towards our families, as many of us are struggling to break our fast.

Both Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have crashed the cost of the essential commodity in recent weeks.

Rewane attributed the reduction in fuel price to a fall in global crude oil price.

Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, has predicted that the cost of premium motor spirit also known as petrol will continue to decline until June 2025.

Both Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria National Petroluem Company Limited (NNPCL) have crashed the cost of the essential commodity in recent weeks, easing the pressure on millions of Nigerians who depend on fuel for their energy needs.

But Rewane says the recent reduction in the pump price of the product is expected to continue until mid-year.

“So, generally between now and June, we will see prices begin to decline. But after June as things stabilize, depending on what happens in the global oil and currency market, we might begin to see some stabilisation,” Rewane said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Business Morning.

According to him, the price war between Dangote Refinery and NNPCL will benefit the consumer more.

“In a price war, nobody wins, the consumers win in the short run then eventually the market goes back to where it should be. But, at the end of the day, between now and June, the price leadership will be firmly established,” Rewane said.

He attributed Dangote Refinery’s reduction in the pump price of petrol to production cost efficiency.