‘It’ll show we’re committed to protecting children’ — Bagudu signs child protection bill

Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi, on Wednesday, signed the child rights protection bill into law.

According to NAN, Bagudu also assented to the violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) bill.

In 2003, former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the child rights protection bill to protect the rights of children in Nigeria.

The VAPP bill was signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls in the country.

TheCable had reported that Kebbi was among the states that passed the VAPP bill at the house of assembly level, but awaiting executive approval.

On October 5, 2021, Kebbi house of assembly passed the bill for a law to protect the rights of children in the state.

Speaking after signing the bill, the governor said assenting to the bill will prove to the international community that the state is committed to ensuring that laws against gender violence and protection of children are properly adopted.

“These laws will also strengthen the child protection, although some of our laws already provided for that,” he said.

“This is to strengthen them and draw attention to the need to do more.”

He commended members of Kebbi house of assembly, religious and traditional rulers for ensuring the bills are passed in accordance with the moral and cultural values of the people of the state.

Kebbi is the 30th state in Nigeria to sign the child protection bill into law.