🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Federal Government launches hotlines and WhatsApp channel to combat school bullying
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Federal Government has introduced emergency hotlines and a WhatsApp channel for reporting school bullying cases, following a Stakeholders Consultative Dialogue on Anti-Bullying in Schools organized by International Alert Nigeria in Abuja. The initiative aims to address the widespread issue of bullying in Nigerian schools, where studies indicate 70 to 85 percent of students have experienced it. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, represented by Assistant Director Gender, Augustina Apakasa, announced the ministry's reporting channels: 09012660044 for calls, 08052536133 for WhatsApp messages, and antibullying@education.gov.ng for emails. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, represented by Director, Violence Against Persons Prohibition, Rebecca Enwusoyele, also provided a toll-free short code, 627, and an email address, @naptip.com.gov, noting that while bullying is not explicitly mentioned in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, sections on intimidation, threat, and placing someone in fear can be applied. The National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, represented by Special Assistant Adebola Adeoye, also urged the public to use its hotline, 09131232323. Programme Manager of International Alert Nigeria, Sunday Jimoh, stated that a communiqué and advocacy note would be produced to engage policymakers on the implementation of existing anti-bullying legislation.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadPresident Bola Tinubu on Monday in Lagos received Romuald Wadagni, the newly inaugurated President of the Republic of Benin. This marks Wadagni's first bilateral engagement with his Nigerian counterpart since taking office a week ago. Wadagni was received by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu upon arrival and subsequently held a closed-door meeting with Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence, which lasted nearly 30 minutes. The details of their discussions were not immediately released. Wadagni's visit follows his inauguration on May 24, 2026, succeeding President Patrice Talon after his victory in the April 12 presidential election. Vice President Kashim Shettima had represented Tinubu at the inauguration ceremony. Benin Republic, sharing a western border with Nigeria, is a close neighbor and a key partner in ECOWAS regional cooperation, trade, and security arrangements in the Gulf of Guinea. Tinubu previously served as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government from July 2023 to 2024.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing his political style as opportunistic and lacking the resilience needed for national leadership. Speaking on Arise TV, Wike claimed Obi, who became the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s presidential candidate for 2027 after leaving the Labour Party, consistently avoids political struggles, preferring situations where victories are easily achieved. Wike contrasted Obi's political movements with his own decision to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party despite internal issues. He stated that leadership requires facing challenges directly, not fleeing from them. Wike also addressed the pushback he received as FCT Minister, asserting his commitment to his duties. He praised President Bola Tinubu for his courage in implementing reforms, specifically the removal of the petrol subsidy, which Wike called a "cancer." Wike concluded that a leader's failure lies in the inability to make decisive, long-term choices due to fear of temporary backlash. He reiterated his criticism of Obi's political history, noting his movements from APGA to PDP, then to Labour, and now to the National Democratic Congress.
The Asaba community in Delta State has launched a free ambulance service initiative, supported by an initial N10 million donation. Speaking at the unveiling, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, stated that the project aims to enhance emergency healthcare delivery for residents. Although the ambulances are yet to be purchased, the initiative follows months of planning. Azinge emphasized that the service will be community-driven, offered free of charge to all Asaba residents, and will create employment opportunities. He called on various organizations and Asaba indigenes to support the initiative, expressing confidence in its success given the community's existing healthcare professionals. The Asagba announced plans to commission at least five ambulances within the next two months and highlighted ongoing efforts to revitalize primary healthcare centers. He noted that this initiative complements healthcare efforts by the Delta State and Federal Governments, recalling previous donations of dialysis machines to local hospitals. Emergency communication and security measures will be implemented for smooth operations. Azinge commended the Drug Rehabilitation Committee for its contributions.
The Police Service Commission PSC has disavowed a list circulating on social media, falsely claiming to be a shortlist of candidates for medical examination in the ongoing police recruitment exercise. In a statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, the PSC clarified that no such shortlist has been released. The Commission stated that the evaluation of the written examination is still being finalized, and successful applicants will be officially notified for medical examination in the coming days through email, SMS, the recruitment portal, and other official channels. The PSC emphasized its commitment to a merit-based recruitment process and warned the public to be wary of fraudsters. It reiterated that the recruitment process is free at all stages and urged applicants to disregard unofficial messages, awaiting formal communication from the Commission.