NACCRAN Demands Apology from Nigeria’s Consular in Mali

Segun James

The National Council for Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN) has demanded an unreserved apology from Nigeria’s consular in Mali, Mr. Ugochukwu C. Chime for what the council described as his alleged defamatory statement against its officers.

NACCRAN contributions to the war against human trafficking was acknowledged by the United Nations (UN) in 2011, when it was awarded the special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In a statement issued at the weekend by the South-west Coordinator of NACCRAN, Mr. Samson Olapade Adefioye, the council appealed to the federal government to call Chime to order over his alleged defamatory statements against the council’s officers. 

While acknowledging the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, and his counterpart at the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi for their efforts in combating child trafficking in the country, NACCRAN urged the two agencies not to allow the war against child trafficking to fail.

The group lauded President Bola Tinubu for maintaining listening ears to the cries of Nigerians and exhibiting open door policy since his assumption of office. 

According to him, President Tinubu, ever since he was the Governor of Lagos State, had been a leader with a godly passion for the plight of the led. 

 He insisted that President Tinubu deserves commendation for assembling a progressive team of ministers who share the same vision to move Nigeria forward and project the country’s good image to the world, to work with him.

Speaking on its efforts at combating child trafficking to Mali, NACCRAN noted the challenges it has faced from the office of the Nigerian Consular in Mali.

It commended NAPTIP Director General and his members of staff for their cooperation and support in the fight against child trafficking. 

NACCRAN praised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice, and the Director General of Human Rights Commission, for their support in their fight against child trafficking in West Africa.

NACCRAN was created in 2005 by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) to ease the plight of Nigerian children, and upgrade the lives of women and youths.

NACCRAN was then grouped into six geo-political zones, and the South-west zone has been operating along with other five zones to promote the rights of the child.