By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Child Protection Network (CPN), Cross River State Chapter, has called on Governor Bassey Edet Otu to take urgent and decisive steps to address the rising incidence of violence against children across the state.
In a statement issued in Calabar and signed by the State Coordinator of CPN, Kebe Ikpi, the organisation described violence against children as one of the most pressing yet under-addressed challenges facing Cross River State and Nigeria.
The group, however, commended Governor Otu for the recent reshuffle of the Cross River State Executive Council, describing it as a demonstration of responsive and purposeful leadership.
According to the statement, the Governor’s decision to appoint new commissioners and realign portfolios reflects a commitment to strengthening governance and improving service delivery.
“We at the Child Protection Network Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, commend this decisive action. Effective leadership is not only about political recalibration; it is about creating the conditions for every sector, especially those that safeguard the most vulnerable, to deliver results,” Ikpi stated.
He stressed that leadership should be measured by the priority given to children, who are often unable to advocate for themselves.
Citing findings from the 2014 Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey (VACS), Ikpi said nearly six out of every ten Nigerian children experience one form of violence or another before the age of 18.
According to him, about half of all children suffer physical violence, while one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence.
He added that one in six girls and one in five boys are subjected to emotional violence by parents, caregivers or adult relatives.
The CPN noted that these alarming national figures are reflected in Cross River State, where cases of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, child marriage, female genital mutilation and children living and working on the streets remain widespread.
The statement revealed that a 2018 study identified 317 children living in street situations in Calabar, while reports also indicate that child-focused Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) remain grossly underfunded.
It further observed that many Local Government Child Rights Implementation Committees are either inactive or non-functional due to inadequate support, while case management systems lack the resources needed for effective investigation, psychosocial support and follow-up.
The organisation warned that failure to protect children has far-reaching consequences, including lifelong mental health challenges, school dropout, substance abuse, poverty and the continued cycle of violence across generations.
It also noted that although Cross River records one of Nigeria’s lowest out-of-school rates at about 7.6 per cent among children aged six to 15, more than 140,000 children are still estimated to be out of school, making them highly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and criminal activities.
CPN said the financial cost of violence against children is enormous, placing additional pressure on healthcare services, the justice system, correctional facilities and social welfare programmes, while reducing the state’s human capital and economic productivity.
The organisation acknowledged that the Cross River State Child Rights Law (2023, as amended) provides a strong legal framework for child protection and that the State Child Rights Implementation Committee (SCRIC), inaugurated in 2024, is mandated to coordinate its implementation.
However, it stressed that the committee cannot effectively discharge its responsibilities without adequate and sustained funding.
The network therefore urged Governor Otu and the newly constituted Executive Council to provide dedicated budgetary allocations for SCRIC and child protection programmes across the Ministries of Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Community Development, Justice, Education, Health and Local Government.
It also called for increased funding for case management systems, including the training of social workers, documentation, referral services and support for child survivors.
Furthermore, the organisation urged the state government to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of all individuals who violate the rights of children, insisting that no offender should be protected regardless of status or position.
“Children who experience violence carry the scars into adulthood, with lifelong consequences for mental health, education and productivity.
“Every naira invested in prevention, protection and justice contributes to safer communities, stronger human capital and a more prosperous society,” the statement said.
CPN expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Cross River State Government, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations and community leaders to ensure that child protection laws are fully implemented.
The organisation concluded by urging the government to make the protection of children a central pillar of governance.
“Let us make Cross River State a state truly fit for every child,” the statement added.
