WELA Seeks Ban on Illegal Festival Curfews

–         As Femi Falana decries Nigeria’s education crisis, unaccessed N97bn UBE funds

Sunday Ehigiator and Wale Igbintade 

Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has called for an immediate nationwide ban on unconstitutional curfews imposed during traditional festivals, warning that the practice disproportionately targets women and exposes them to abuse.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent incident that happened in Ozoro, Delta State, WELA’s Founder, Funmi Falana (SAN), in a statement yesterday, said, “the disturbing events recently reported in Ozoro, Delta State, are not isolated. They are the predictable consequence of a dangerous and long-tolerated illegality across parts of Nigeria: the imposition of curfews and movement restrictions by non-state actors under the guise of culture.

“Let us be clear, what is at issue is not culture. What is at issue is power exercised without legal authority.

“Across several regions in Nigeria, including the South-West and the Niger Delta, traditional festivals such as Oro, Agemo, Ekpe, and others routinely impose restrictions on movement; often targeting women, non-indigenes, and non-initiates.

“These restrictions confine citizens to their homes, shut down businesses, disrupt education, and, as recent events have shown, create environments where abuse thrives unchecked.

“The situation in Ozoro represents the end of this pattern. When individuals or groups assume the authority to declare curfews, control public spaces, and dictate who may move freely, they create conditions where lawlessness replaces order and where the vulnerable, especially women and girls, are exposed to grave harm. This must end.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended) is unambiguous. Section 41 guarantees the right to freedom of movement. Section 35 protects personal liberty. Section 42 prohibits discrimination, including based on sex.

“No traditional institution, no cultural group, and no private individual has the constitutional authority to suspend these rights.

“Only duly constituted government authorities, acting within the law and in the interest of public safety and order, may impose restrictions such as curfews, and even then, such measures must be necessary, proportionate, and legally justified.”

Calling for urgent action, she noted that “all curfews imposed by non-state actors, whether in the name of festivals, rituals, or tradition, must be declared illegal and prohibited across Nigeria.

“Our festivals should showcase our heritage, not weaponise it. They should attract visitors, not instill fear. They should empower communities, not degrade women and girls.

“The events in Ozoro are a warning. If unlawful curfews continue to be tolerated, they will continue to produce environments where rights are violated and justice is absent. We must choose between a society governed by law and one governed by unchecked tradition. For us, the choice is clear. Enough is enough.”

Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), raised alarm over what he described as the denial of basic education to millions of Nigerian children, blaming state governments for failing to access available funding.

According to him, “the Child’s Rights Act, enacted in 2003, guarantees free and mandatory basic education for all children of primary and junior secondary school age.

“The Act has been adopted and enacted into law by the 36 state governments. Similarly, the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004, provides for free and mandatory basic education for all children of primary and junior secondary school age across the country.

“Under the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, the Federal Government contributes a block grant equivalent to 2 per cent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to support basic education, while state governments are required to provide a 50 per cent matching grant (counterpart funding) to access this federal allocation.

“As of March 2026, the authorities of many state governments and the Federal Capital Territory have refused to access over N97 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission Fund.

“Apart from not accessing the UBE matching grant, some state governments have failed to properly utilise the funds for the development of infrastructure and improvement of the teaching and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools across the country.

“Despite several judgments of the ECOWAS Court and the Federal High Court, which have upheld the right of every Nigerian child to mandatory and free universal basic education, Nigeria has about 20 million out-of-school children. The members of the ruling class have consigned the children of poor citizens to illiteracy and ignorance.”

Falana added that his intervention was prompted by a formal request to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for details on states’ compliance with the law, noting that the response confirmed widespread lapses.