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HomeAbuja NewsEnd the scourge of out-of-school children, Wike tells UBEC

End the scourge of out-of-school children, Wike tells UBEC

By Sarah NEGEDU 

As the number of out-of-school children continues to rise in Nigeria, the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has been asked to step up efforts in reducing the figure.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, enjoined the leadership of the commission commit more resources in the areas of school construction and renovations as being experienced in the FCT.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 18.3million, making it the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.

However, the FCT Minister, while receiving UBEC Secretary Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, in his office said with concerted effort, the menace of children roaming the streets and constituting security threat can be drastically reduced.

On land request tabled by the commission’s officials, Wike said FCT Administration would only allocate land to people with proven capacity to develop them and not to land speculators.

The minister condemned the practice where people after getting land allocation from the administration will keep it for years without development even selling it to others.

Wike said, “We can give land only to people with proven capacity to commence immediate development, not for people to go and either sell it or keep it for years without commencing development.

“When you request for land and you are given, start work on it, this will help in combating illegal activities on the land especially hoodlums from converting such areas to their houses.

“UBEC should be concerned on resolving the issue of out-of-school children, insecurity can’t be resolved if children remain at home and are allowed to be roaming in the street”

Responding, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said the visit was to remind the minister about the land request made to his office.

Bobboyi urged the minister to help officials of the commission to have a place where they will live after retirement.

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