Senate President Ahmed Lawan
Senate President Ahmed Lawan
Senate urges FG to ban Sniper, establish Trauma
centers
The Senate today at plenary urged the Federal Government through
the Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency and the
Ministry of Health to urgently create awareness on how to control
stress and depression and establish trauma centers across the
country.
In a motion sponsored by Senator T. A. Orji representing Abia
Central and 15 other Senators on Rising Incidents of Suicides
Amongst Nigerians, the Senate notes with grave concern, the rising
cases of suicides particularly among young Nigerians in recent
times. It also notes that significant number of people with
suicidal intentions keep their thoughts and feelings as a secret
and show no sign that anything is wrong.
They regrets that many people commit suicide out of ignorance
and situation that could be addressed. They mentioned the names of
Michael Arowosaiye on 14th May 2019, Aisha Omolola of Ahmadu Bello
University, a professor of Biological Science from the University
of Agriculture ,Makurdi, Tolulope Aboderin, a banker and Samuel
Elias a final year student of University of Nigeria Nsukka who all
died as a result of suicide.
Worried that the number of Nigerians taking their lives has
assumed a frightening dimension of late and the government,
religious institutions and other relevant corporate bodies have not
addressed the ugly situation in the country and the situation may
continue if not properly addressed.
The Senate accordingly resolved to urge the Federal Government
to ban the production, importation or circulation of snipers
insecticide, a product currently used to commit suicide.
They also urged the Federal Government through the NUC to review
the school curriculum and come up with compulsory courses that will
enable students place value on their lives and detest suicide.
Finally they promised to engage the executive arm on the need to
expand the scope and content of the Special Intervention Program of
government and to leverage on extant schemes like the N-Power in
creating economic opportunities for the vulnerable sections of the
population.
Charles Akpan
Deputy Director