Tunde Oyesina 
The Federal Government yesterday reinstated its resolve to protect every girl-child in the country against rape and violence.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, gave the hint in Abuja at a joint-press briefing which had the Human Rights Commission, representative of the United Nations, the Justice Ministry and coalition of civil society organisations in attendance.
The programme was tagged: Support for spotlighting the eradication of rape and other gender-related based violence in Nigeria.
Represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, the AGF assured Nigerians that the government would ensure quality and affordable education for every Nigerian child.
According to him, the federal government also directed the Nigeria Police to apprehend rapists as a way of demonstrating its zero tolerance for rape and other forms of sexual and physical violence on the girl-child.
He added that relevant government agencies had been directed to scale-up support for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
He said: “To tackle this hydra-headed menace headlong, my office is currently engaging with heads of courts, for the establishment of specialised courts for the speedy and seamless trial of rape and gender-based offences.”
Malami noted further that in order to break the cycle of such abuses, serious efforts would be exerted at not only curbing the menace, but to eliminate it completely.
In his own address, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said the commission came to present its letter of ‘Call to Action’ to the federal government.
Ojukwu, who described rape as gross violation of human rights and crime, noted that victims and survivors deserved justice.
Describing the Ministry of Justice as the fulcrum through which necessary legal and policy reform can be enhanced, added that the vulnerable in the society should be protected.
According to Ojukwu, as a way of fighting the scourge, the commission he said had continued to create awareness across the 36 states of the federation for some weeks now.
“We and our partners like the Police, NAPTIP, the Judiciary and other organisations, have been marching in the street and meeting stakeholders.
“We have also been calling for the adoption of a more severe approach to curb the ugly trend,” he added.
Also speaking at the occasion, United Nations representative and programme manager, gender and human rights, who doubles as representative of the EU Spotlight Initiatives at the programme, Onyinye Ndubuisi, reiterated the UN’s readiness to partner with government agencies and organisations to fight the scourge.
She said the UN frowned at rape and every form of gender-based violence, adding; “No more rape. Enough is Enough.”
