HUMAN TRAFFICKING STILL BOOMS

THE AGONY OF TRAFFICKING

Government's war against human trafficking is still not gathering appreciable momentum. On a daily basis, there is still large movement of people, mostly teenagers, from neighbouring countries to nigerian commercial cities such as lagos, oyo and so on. These people are usually transported across border to work as domestic maids,baby sitters ,resturants attendants or to do several other menial jobs for little or no pay.

The obnoxious trade in the Togolese Embassy, in lagos, is booming because the human traffickers find Nigerians cities a veritable market for their busineses, which is simply a cash and carry affair.

The unfortunate victims are drawn from remote villages in cotonou, benin e.t.c and usually families. Most times, they are lured to Nigeria for more lucrative jobs.They are not usually aware of any cash negotiations between the agents and their masters or mistresses.

There are several cases of these unfortunate victims ,especially the underage, who have ran off due to the harshness and unfair treatment by their bosses.

According to Nigeria police record ,on nineteen january,two suspected traffickers were arrested by the anti-robbery squad along seme-border with about !7 victims.

THE NEW FACE OF OGBA ROAD

OGBA TURN AROUND OVERNIGHT

Its really amazing, passersby are able to move freely without being insulted by market women, no blocked road, No buying and selling on the road. Where are the market women?

Ogba Ijaiye Bus-Stop which has always been a very busy road full of buying and selling has now change overnight that even passersby move freely without being assaulted by market women and i ask myself what has really happened? this is not the Ogba i use to know.

The popular sunday market has turned to everyday market and the market women at Ogba bus-stop now sell at the place.

Mrs Tiamiu Mogaji, one of the sellers now relocated to sunday market explained that ''there moving to sunday market is not in their own interest, it is the work of the Government(Tenament rate).I have been in this market for the past five hours and i have not sold to my satisfaction, but if am at ogba bus-stop,i would have made alot of profit without even stressing myself to call customers.

"What i do now is to tell my son to hawk the pepper while i stay in the market to see if a buyer will come and patronize me"

What baffles most is the shops that has been demolished, no single extention is left out at Ogba.The place now look differently unlike before and less stress for passersby.

I have never seen this kind of change before, what has the Government of Governor Babatunde Fashola caused havoc to the market women or positive change for Lagosians?

Apapa wharf road

Apapa-wharf road users lament poor state of federal roads in lagos.

The poor state of roads in the lagos metropolis has continued to cause users untold hardship and there seem to be no relief in sight.

Looking at the current state of some roads including apapa mile 2, wharf road, the effect on users and economic activities, we see that the traffic arising from the very bad state of the road has caused serious economic problem for industries who rely on imported items which come from the seaport for their manifacturing activities.

The road that links a first time Visitor and goods from the Nations water waves to lagos and if you like to other part of the country.

Despite the strategic position of the Road to the nations economy,the federal Government have paid little or no attention to its upgrading and this has caused alot of fraudsration for users.

Residents of the area therefore advised the federal Government to take the issue of road rehabilitation seriously as ecomomic development is dependent on the quick accessibility of goods and services.

High price of comodities in lagos state

In the last few month, price of staple food has risened over fifty per-cent across the country. The development is taken its tour on the standard of living on the people.

Many housewives now find it difficult to give balance diet to their families. In the beginning of this year prizes of goods and services have been underise despite the drop in inflation figures to 13.4% in April. The food scarcity recorded during the period following the strike embarked upon by major marketers worsened the situation.

Thou the fuel scarcity problem is over,prises of food item and other commodities are yet to come down.Most market in lagos metropolist, sells their goods higher than what it use to be. Tomatoes,pepper, Garri were the worst of it.For instance a basket of fresh tomatoes now goes for 5,000 naira, a bag of garri now sell for 4,500 as some traders however bleamed the high cost of food item on the excessive rain experienced around the country.

Some people are of the opinion that equiping farmers with tools and installing storage facilities with the handful availability is better.Effective implementation of the federal government agricultural funds will go a long way in boosting food production that will help reduce the current high prise of food items.

CHILD TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

The glory of children is seeing themselves in the midst of their colleague in school and grow up like other children in the society. children are suppose to be the leaders of tommorrow.

Reverse is the case,as some children are victims of trafficking either to serve as a begger, servant vice-versa.

Six million Nigerian children are estimated to be at risk of trafficking for domestic forced labour, prostitution and pornography every year according to a national survey conducted by the international labour organization in 2003.

some parents give their children without even realising that they are given them to the wrong hands.Perherps promises of homes and better education lure parents, only to find out later that their child has either turned into slaves, beggers, or even prostitutes.

Government on its part has to set up an agency to fight trafficking by implementing laws that will ban all forms of trafficking and also educate parents on this issue.