AMERICANS BUYING NIGERIAN CHILDREN, ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL ADOPTION AND IMPRISONING PREGNANT WOMEN

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS REACT

The Nigerian Governors forum has reacted to a statement credited to the American Embassy. The statement alleged that American citizens are engaged in illegal adoption of Nigerian children, illegal trading in human beings especially children from Nigeria. They are also accused of imprisoning pregnant women with aim of ”harvesting” the children delivered.

These acts of modern day slavery have been described as barbaric and an assault on Africa’s most populous nation.

The governors “pledged to engage the relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government in a bid to address the situation.”

This pledge was contained in a communique issued by the Nigerian Governors  at the end of the virtual meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ forum (NGF) held on Wednesday, 20th march 2024.

Some observers however believe many Nigerians willingly submit themselves to the illegal activities due to the prevailing harsh economic and living conditions in the country.

Comrade Akin Adesola, a political analyst and teacher said unlike in times gone when Nigerians were forcefully sold to slavery, people now willingly go into the modern day slavery. Parents, according to Adesola, now give up their children and wards for a life abroad without being sure what fate awaited them. Their eyes are fixed on the Dollars which amount to quite a fortune when converted to Naira.

Mrs Bolade Johnson, a New York based Nigerian said life back home is so bad that “Baby Factories” are reported in Nigeria to feed the American illegal baby trafficking trade.

The only way out according to her is for government to find a way of improving the living conditions of Nigerians and improve security.

The communique by the Governors Forum reads

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM (NGF) HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 20TH MARCH 2024

We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, Wednesday 20th March 2024, deliberated on various issues of national importance and resolved as follows:

1.    The Forum commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, H.E Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, and which led to the death of many including sixteen (16) military personnel. While condemning the heinous act, members observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed.

2. Members reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee (NMWC) and ongoing multi- stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage. Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual State peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasized the need for proposals to be data- driven and evidence-based.

3. The Forum highlighted the need for State policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.

4. Members discussed the growing concern raised by the United States Embassy over illegal and fraudulent intercountry adoption of Nigerian children by US citizens including systemic fraud and corruption, child- buying, the imprisonment of pregnant women, and unreliable or non-existent documentation. Members pledged to engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to address the situation.

5. The Forum discussed the progress made by States in implementing various business enabling reforms including those aimed at improving land administration, Public Private Partnership (PPP), investment promotion frameworks, business-enabling infrastructure and regulatory environment under the World Bank supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Program for Result. Members were implored to leverage available support within the program in implementing related reforms to stimulate further economic growth.

6. The Forum received an update from the NGF Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab on the Health Sector Renewal Compact, the next round of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge and the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund. Members restated their commitment to deliver on requisite actions and reforms to achieve the objectives of the various initiatives.

H.E Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq

Executive Governor, Kwara State & Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

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