The National Council for Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN) has formally requested the Federal Government to reprimand Nigeria’s Consular in Mali, Mr. Ugochukwu C. Chime, regarding what it describes as defamatory statements against the council’s officials.
In a statement released on Thursday, Southwest Coordinator of NACCRAN, Mr. Samson Olapade Adefioye, emphasized the council’s concern over Chime’s remarks and demanded a public apology. He warned that if no action is taken to rectify the situation, NACCRAN would escalate the issue to the United Nations (UN) in its forthcoming report in January.
Adefioye urged the leadership of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene, stressing that Chime’s actions threaten their ongoing efforts to combat child trafficking. He praised the work of both agencies and their leaders—Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed of the NIA and Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi of the DSS—in tackling this critical issue.
Further expressing his support for President Bola Tinubu, Adefioye commended the President for his responsive governance and open-door policy since taking office. He noted that Tinubu has a longstanding commitment to addressing the needs of the vulnerable, dating back to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
The press release detailed NACCRAN’s ongoing initiatives to combat child trafficking in West Africa, highlighting collaboration with various government agencies including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and expressing gratitude for their support.
Founded in 2005 by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in cooperation with UNICEF, NACCRAN has been instrumental in advancing children’s rights and well-being across Nigeria. The organization’s dedication has been recognized by the UN, which granted it special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2011.
