International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to declare rape as a national crisis in the country.

Amnesty International said on Wednesday that it joined its voice to other civil societies demanding justice over the incident of rape and murder of a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Uwavera Omozuwa, as well as 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Amnesty International Nigeria in a series of tweets noted that a “toxic culture that encourages men to see women as passive sex objects” must be discouraged.

The organisation said, “The government’s response to rape continues to be, woefully inadequate. Frequent reports of rape across Nigeria is a gruesome reminder of the violence women and girls face. Violence against women and girls is often not properly registered or investigated.

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“The rape and murder of an 18-year-old student, Barakat Bello, in Ibadan is shocking. Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to declare a national crisis on rape. Women and girls’ safety must be paramount across Nigeria.

“Dear President Buhari, declare rape a national crisis. Rape is a crime. If there is no consent, it is rape, even if the victim stays quiet and does not resist. The “boys will be boys” mentality warps sex into something for men, done by men to women, without regard for the woman’s wellbeing. This toxic culture that encourages men to view women as passive sex objects needs to be addressed.

“We are joining people in Nigeria to demand justice for Omozuwa who was murdered and raped in a Nigerian church. Violence against women must stop. Authorities have to ensure justice for her and other women.”

The Federal Executive Council, FEC has approved the reimbursement of funds expended on federal roads by some state governments.

The total sum to be reimbursed to five states is N148,141,987,161.25.

Among states shortlisted to benefit include Cross River N18,394,737,608.85, Ondo N7,822,147,577.08, Osun N2,468,938,876.78, Bayelsa N38,040,564,783.40 and Rivers N78,953,067,518.29.

ABN TV reports that The memo was presented by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, at the third virtual council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Council Chambers of the State House.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents on behalf of Fashola, said the council had also warned that there will be no reimbursement in future should any state government venture into such projects without the nod of the government at the centre.

He said, “You will recall that in 2016, 36 states of the federation sent a very huge bill to the federal government, asking for compensation for money that they have expended on federal roads. This prompted Mr President to set up a committee to go and verify the claims of these 36 states, whether indeed these projects were actually constructed, were they completed, in line with the Federal Government standards.

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“At the end of that exercise by an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Works and Housing but also had ministers of Education, Transportation, Finance, Minister of State for Works, DG BPP and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, as members.

“At the end of that exercise, the committee recommended that the Federal Government should refund N550,364,297.31bn to 31 of the 36 states, after they were convinced that, yes indeed, the projects were completed and there were federal roads. But the claims of five other states Cross River, Rivers, Ondo, Bayelsa and Osun failed on the grounds that they did not do proper documentation and the committee felt they needed proper documentation.

“So the committee went back with new terms of reference to ensure that the claims of the five states were in order, which is why the BPP is on the committee. So at the end of the exercise, the committee now reported that the five states – Cross River with 20 roads and one bridge will get a refund of N18,394,737,608.85, Ondo with six roads to get a refund of N7,822,147,577.08, and Osun with two roads and one bridge to get a refund of N2,468,938,876.78.

“Others are Bayelsa with five roads and one bridge is to get a refund of N38,040,564,783.40 and Rivers with three roads and three flyovers bridges is to get a refund of N78,953,067,518.29.”