The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Pauline Tallen, has raised the alarm over upsurge in rape cases in Nigeria.
The Minister noted with dismay that no fewer than 3,600 cases of rape were recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Reports that we received from commissioners of women affairs across the 36 states of the federation revealed that each state recorded at least, 100 rape cases during the Covid-19 induced lockdown,” she said.
The Minister made this stunning revelation during a courtesy visit to the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, on Monday.
Tallen while commending Omo-Agege for sponsoring the sexual harassment bill, which was passed in the Senate last week, applauded the Nigeria Governors Forum for declaring a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
She also called for more legislation to protect women and the girl-child.
Speaking, Omo-Agege told his guest that the approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill was in furtherance of the legislative agenda of the 9th Senate, to protect women’s rights.
He said the proposed law, would not only send a strong signal to those who may want to abuse women but ensure that students are not at the mercy of ‘sexual predators’.
The Bill is meant to prevent, prohibit, and redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary institutions, 2020.
It was passed by the Senate at its sitting on July 7, 2020.
It prohibits sexual harassment of students in tertiary institutions and prescribes jail term ranging from two to 14 years for various degrees of offences.
The proposed legislation equally prescribes N5m fine for offenders.
