Lagos to sign safeguard, child protection policy into law

Lagos State attorney general and commissioner for justice, Adeniji Kazeem, says the state government will soon sign into law the Safeguard and Child Protection policy, as a measure to further check cases of rape, child abuse, sexual assaults against children and women.

Kazeem, speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Ikeja, said the last one year had seen over 4,035 cases of rape, child abuse, assaults, divorce recorded in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.

He said the policy would protect children against vices inimical to their wellbeing, adding that lack of support of children was tantamount to neglect and abuse, as “the policy will help protect the right of any child in the state.”

The commissioner, who gave further insight into the activities of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) set up by the government to handle related cases in Lagos, said available statistics showed there had been a steady rise in reported cases of rape and other domestic violence, which could no longer be tolerated.

“In the year under review, the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) handled 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, child’s custody and maintenance, sexual assault and abuse, defilement, divorce and matrimonial issues.

“In 2014, OPD handled 437 cases on child custody and maintenance, while in 2015, it handled over 1, 078 cases. While the number of divorce dropped slightly, the statistics however, showed that more women are opting out for child custody and maintenance of their children.

“Similarly, in 2014, OPD provided alternative dispute resolution in marital issues for 291 persons while in 2015, 746 persons petitioned the office in respect of marital issues.”

He said victims are often subjected to counselling and medical services at the Mirable Centre at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja, adding that within the period considered centre provided service to 750 cases ranging from rape, attempted rape and sexual assaults, defilements and battery.

Omotola Rotimi, the director of the OPD, on her part said that the increase in cases of domestic violence and rape compelled the state government to establish family courts across the state. “If anyone visits the courts across the state, he or she will be marvelled with the number of rape, domestic violence and other cases that are often slated daily for hearing.”