54 percent of Nigerian children suffer from multidimensional poverty
About 54 percent of children in Nigeria are ‘multidimensionally poor’. 47.4 percent of children face monetary poverty, while 24.56 percent face extreme poverty in the country. Three reports prepared by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with UNICEF and launched in Abuja by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo confirmed the development. From the reports, Nigeria would need roughly N1 trillion to lift children out of poverty. Analysis indicates that the child poverty rate is highest among children aged 16- 17 years and least among children aged 0-5 years. It notes that children are most affected by poverty because they are vulnerable and that poverty has long-term impacts on the well-being of children, even into adulthood.
Federal Government asks defaulting states to implement Child Rights Act
The federal government has appealed to states yet to start the implementation of the Child Rights Act, enacted since 2003, to do so immediately in the interest of the innocent Nigerian children. Segun Runsewe, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, made the appeal in Abuja, at the Second Abuja Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Curbing Sexual Violence Against Children, organised by the HOSEC Foundation. He explained that the domestication of the law would increase child protection and reduce the chances of child abuse in the country. Edward Alikor, President of the Pediatrician Association of Nigeria (PAN), had in January this year, stated that Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa states had yet to domesticate the law. “The inability of the 11 states in the northern path of the country to domesticate the Child Rights Act was a serious issue to the pediatrician association.” However, Runsewe said 31 states had so far signed the law and appealed to the remaining five to do so without further delay.
Read also: Experts urge Nigeria, others to adopt multidimensional approach to reduce poverty
Five unconventional resources to tap
As climate change worsens, and with populations rising worldwide, water shortages are a top threat to human development and security. Conventional water sources – which rely on snowfall, rainfall and rivers – are not enough to meet growing freshwater demand in water-scarce areas. Other unconventional sources of water include Cloud seeding and fog collectors, cloud seeding can enhance rainfall by up to 15 percent under the right conditions. Desalination – removing salt from seawater, which contributes over 100 million cubic metres of water a day, supporting about 5 percent of the world’s population. Reusing water, advanced treatment systems can convert wastewater into potable water. Agricultural drainage water, and moving water physically to water-scarce areas. Ships transport around 90 percent of the goods traded worldwide and discharge some 10 billion tons of ballast water (10km³) every year.
Better designed neighborhoods can reduce Nigeria property crime– Expert
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 134,663 cases of offences were reported in 2017. Offences against property make up the highest number of cases reported. As of March 2022, Nigerians reported they worried most about robbery, theft and break-ins. Governments can respond to crime in various ways, like making and enforcing laws and addressing the root causes of crime. Another avenue to explore is crime prevention through spatial design. Research has shown that features of the built environment influence crime. Physical developments and locations can contribute to crime through flawed planning or structural design. It can also be lack of maintenance, access control, territorial reinforcement and surveillance. The plan and design of the built environment should ideally form part of a broader approach to crime prevention and community policing. Proper design and effective use of the built environment can reduce the fear and incidence of crime, and improve quality of life which includes surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and space management.
Gas explosion injures 20 People, burns shops in Kano
Gas explosion at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refiling shop burnt down shops and injured 20 people in Kano at about 8:30 p.m on Thursday when a cylinder exploded and instantly caught fire. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the fire destroyed the place and about three other shops nearby, including part of a house attached to the shop. This occurred in a busy area of Sheka quarters, Karshen-Kwalta in Kano. According to Malam Abubakar, a witness, over 10 people were affected by the incident, mostly those inside the shop and the people living close to the place doing their businesses. When contacted, Saminu Yusif, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, confirmed the incident. He said that 20 people were involved, but had been rescued alive and now receiving treatment in hospitals.
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