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Special Report: Nigeria’s Hidden Crisis—15 Million Childhoods Lost to Labor, Experts Suggest a Way Out

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1 year ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa ,Nigerian Tracker Correspondent

In Nigeria, child labor has remained one of the highest rating phenomenon bedeviling the society. This development has become prevalent, particularly, among the low income households the rural communities.

Consequently, the victims are usually prone to psychological trauma, and believing less in themselves among their peers as they are usually deprived of enjoying the euphoria of childhood as their peers.

According to the 2023 report by UNICEF and International Labor Organization(ILO), 43% of children in Nigeria between the age bracket of 5-17 years are engaged in child labor, amounting to 15 million children. Also in the record, 39% of those children which is around 14million are involved in hazardous work, including mining, quarrying, hawking, and domestic servitude.

From the report, it was clear that only 61% of children between 6-14 years of age attend primary school, with many dropping out due to economic pressures.

The report also comprehensively noted that the practice is most prevalent in the northern part of the country, Nigeria. Citing the already accustomed Almajiri system which has indirectly but greatly contributed to this ugly development.

However, emphasis on other regions in the country where such practice is practically in existence was made; noting states like Enugu, Abia and others from the south east where kids engage in menial trades in the market for survival. Lagos state, as a hub for child labor in the western part of the country, where kids are being used as domestic house helps, was not left out either.

Further Revelations From Experts

Sociologist Maimuna Abubakar gave an insight on how children are usually being trafficked from their parents home to their place of illegal labor:

“There are two distinct ways in which the child labor practice is being carried out in Nigeria juxtaposing the northern and the southern parts of the country,” she said.

“From the northern side where mostly girls of the ages of 9-15 years are being taken from their parents home to places they will engage in labor, it’s very difficult to find a girl being used as house help and at same time enrolled in school or any vocational training,” she added.

“But at the other side which is the southern part of the country, girls and boys are usually being trafficked to serve as house helps and apprentices, unlike the north which is mostly girls. And there are usually enrolled in school or vocational training by those they are laboring for–such practice which is very rare in the northern part of the country,” Mrs Maimuna asserted.

Identifying the key drivers to child labor practice in Nigeria, Mrs. Maimuna pointed out that cultural norms is actually one of the main drivers that are fueling the growing numbers of child labor; citing a real life scenario where a father had brought his own daughter to a relative’s house in order for her to be trained up to a secondary education level while she does all the house chores for them:

“The man planned that after her attainment of secondary education, he will marry her out, then she and her husband will be left with the choice of she continuing the education to higher level or not,” she narrated.

While on the other hand, a public affairs Analyst, Dr. Muttaqa Yushau Abdulrauf, clarified that:

“while it’s a good thing for a child to assist his parents in chores, what is frowned upon and termed child labor is when a child is being subjected to a hazardous work that can clearly overpowers him and endangers his life, and also deprived him access to education.”

He also noted that poverty is the main cause for child labor practice in Nigeria:

“Data has shown that the key driver of child labor is poverty.”

“Especially the rural areas where parents are found not being able to take care of their children. So, instead of them finding another source of income, they engage their children in hazardous work especially mining and quarrying which usually serves as their alternative source of income,” Dr. Muttaqa added.

The Role Of Government In Tackling The Phenomenon

While Dr. Muttaqa acknowledged the existence of some of the social welfare programs enacted by the government such as the Child Right Act in some states, he also admitted to the growing numbers of child labor practice in Nigeria amidst the government efforts:

“There so many educational policies being put in place by the government aimed at ensuring that every child has access to education.”

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“But despite all the policies, child labor has increased proportionately overtime,” he said.

On the other hand, Mrs. Maimuna criticized that it has been a challenge in the governance system of Nigeria to sustain policies that have been initiated:

“Policies are mostly in papers nowadays without proper implementation and follow up.”

“I could vividly recall there was a time around 2010 until around 2017/2018 where child labor is strictly frowned upon by authorities in charge. Then, if a child is caught hawking on the road during school hours, authorities would take the child into custody and wait for the parents to come and claim him with huge fine. If a particular parent is constantly found guilty of such treatment on a child, such parent would be arrested,” she narrated.

“Then, the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) scheme for free education was in place. The scheme and the strict implementation of consequences for engagement in child labor helped in reducing the numbers of children on the street during school hours,” Mrs. Maimuna added.

“It’s the lack of sustaining the policies by the government that has contributed to the rise in the numbers of child labor in Nigeria today,” she remarked.

Ordinary Nigerians Lent Their Voices

Mus’ab Ahmad Dandani, an indigene of Bauchi state, acknowledged the widespread practice of child labor in Nigeria especially in the north:

“The practice is actually common in Nigeria, especially in the northern part where the Almajiri system is actively in place.”

“However, it’s not restricted to the northern part only as there is poverty everywhere which is the main reason why the children are out on the street as a result of their parents being incapacitated to provide,” he added.

When asked who is to be blamed the most among parents, employers of the child labor, and the government, Mr. Mus’ab responded that every of the category has its own share of the blame.

Another respondent, Jacob Samaila, a resident of Kaduna State noted that the phenomenon is prevalent in the rural areas of the country the most:

“Child Labor is very common in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas”

Like the first respondent, Mr. Jacob also pointed out that the blame for child labor is shared among the parents, the employers, and the government; noting that each of the three has its way of contributing to the challenge.

A kogite, Rashidat Isiaka, remarked that aside poverty, other key factors contributing to the rise in the numbers of child labor practice in Nigeria are lack of education or awareness, and cultural norms:

“Most parents don’t know their children have certain rights over them that are recognized by the law, and punishable if violated.”

She continued, “Also, it’s part of the culture of some communities that girls aren’t supposed to be educated as that will be a waste of time since they usually end up in marriage; and they are expected to be submissive in taking care of the house without doing any job.”

Aminu Ibrahim, a resident of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was of the opinion that parents are to be wholly blamed for child labor practice in Nigeria:

“If parents are deliberate about birth control, there wouldn’t have been a child labor practice in the first place before talking about the need to look up to the government for supports.”

“Parents must stop bringing into the world children they can not cater for,” Aminu cautioned.

He also emphasized that the child labor practice has contributed immensely to the Boko Haram/banditry insurgence that is ravaging rural communities:

“Most of the Boko Haram and banditry members operating in Nigeria were once victims of this child labor of a thing.”

Aminu continued, “If parents had controlled the way they give birth, we wouldn’t be having such experience in Nigeria.”

Due to the growing opinion that poverty is the main reason for the practice in question, Rashidat Ahmad, also a kogite, was asked if at all a child must work to support his parents, at what age would she recommend? And she responded thus below:

“I don’t support the idea of children working at a very young age, but if at all it should happen, then 18 years upward is a good fit.”

Contrary to the above opinion by Aminu Ibrahim that only parents should be blamed for the child labor practice, but of the same understanding as other respondents, Rashidat also noted that each of the three–parents, employers of child labor, and the government–is to be blamed proportionately:

“Child labor is rather a complex issue, and as such, can not be attributed to one party.”

“Moreover, all the three share certain responsibilities that ought to address the ugly development decisively,” she added.

What Is The Best Possible Way Out?

Deducing from the submissions made by experts, and even the other respondents from the various parts of the country, the best and possible way out of this chaos known as child labor are:

Birth control as opined by Aminu Ibrahim, the respondent from the Federal Capital Territory.
Stronger social welfare programs that will see to poverty alleviation–more like job creation and quality access to education for the children.

Enforcement of the Child Right Act laws that will punish its offenders decisively.
If the solutions provided by the respondents will be effectively adhered to and implemented, child labor practice will be reduced to the barest minimum.

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APC London branch confers development award on Gov Abba Kabiru Yusuf

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2 hours ago

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October 13, 2026

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The ruling All Progressive Congress, APC London chapter has conferred an award of honour, on Kano state governor, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf.

 

The chairman APC UK , London Branch, Hon Tunde Doherty , at the pageant presentation ceremony held at Double Tree By Hilton London, said the award was conferred on governor Yusuf in recognition of his contributions to the development of the party at the grass root levels.

 

He added that , the sterling leadership qualities of the recipient and his style of democratic governance were exemplarity saying this resulted to his been nominated by members of the UK branch of the party to be conferred with the award .

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The Special Adviser on Youth and Sports Development to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Sani Musa Danja .expressed profound appreciation to the APC UK leadership for the honour, bestowed on the governor, describing it as a clear testimony to the contributions of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the growth of the party across board.

 

He stated that , the awardee has continued to champion the values of unity, service, development and progress within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

According to him, Governor Yusuf has been an evangelist of the importance of strengthening relationships between party members and supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.

 

Danja said that the award was earned owing to the sacrifices of the people of Kano State, alongside those working towards a united, prosperous and progressive Nigeria.

 

He commended Hon. Tunde Doherty and the APC UK leadership for promoting party solidarity and strengthening political engagements within the Nigerian diaspora community.

 

 

Danja conveyed the Governor’s appreciation to the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom for remaining actively connected to Nigeria’s political and developmental aspirations.

 

He affirmed that Kano State Government under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf has remained focus towards its commitment to youth empowerment, sports development, creating economic opportunities and pursuing the general wellbeing of the good people of Kano.

 

Our correspondent reports that , the occasion also featured the inauguration of the Tinubu Must Stay Organisation, UK Chapter, marking another step in organising the supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the United Kingdom and strengthening diaspora engagement in their support of the President’s leadership and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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Kano Monitors ₦48.9bn Projects Across Six LGAs

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19 hours ago

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October 12, 2026

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By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The Kano State Government says it has intensified monitoring and evaluation of public projects across six local government areas, with 106 projects valued at approximately ₦48.91 billion assessed during routine inspections in September 2026.

The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Iro Maaji, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on the findings of the ministry’s monitoring exercises, which covered Kabo, Dawakin Tofa, Tofa, Shanono, Gwarzo and Bagwai local government areas.

Maaji said the inspections were designed to assess the physical progress of government-funded projects, examine the quality of executed works, identify implementation challenges and determine the extent to which public investments were delivering benefits to residents.

According to the commissioner, the monitoring exercise formed part of the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to transparency, accountability and improved service delivery across Kano State.

He explained that the monitoring teams comprised professionals and technical officers from the ministry, supported by its media team, who visited project sites to evaluate construction works and assess the condition and functionality of public facilities.

The commissioner said the projects inspected covered roads, classroom construction and renovation, healthcare facilities, neighbourhood security divisional offices, solar-powered streetlighting, drainage systems, water supply and other essential infrastructure.

Maaji stressed that government projects should not be assessed solely on the basis of contract awards, adding that their quality, functionality, sustainability and measurable benefits to communities were equally important.

80 Projects Recorded at 100 Per Cent Progress

Providing a breakdown of the monitoring findings, Maaji said 80 of the 106 project entries, representing approximately 75.5 per cent, were recorded as having attained 100 per cent physical progress.

He said another 20 projects were at various stages of implementation, while six had recently been awarded, bringing the total number of project entries covered by the six local government schedules to 106.

The commissioner, however, emphasised that the ministry would continue to conduct follow-up inspections to establish compliance with contractual obligations, verify the quality of work and ensure that outstanding issues were addressed before projects were formally closed out.

According to the project schedules accompanying the monitoring report, the 106 entries had a reconstructed aggregate contract value of ₦48,910,349,389.07, or approximately ₦48.91 billion.

The figures represent entries in the monitoring schedules and physical progress recorded during the inspections; they do not, by themselves, constitute independently verified completion certificates for all projects listed as 100 per cent complete.

Kabo Records Highest Project Value

A comparison of the six local government areas showed that Kabo had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦15.52 billion, the highest aggregate value among the areas covered by the exercise.

The monitoring schedules recorded 12 of the Kabo projects as having reached 100 per cent physical progress, while two were ongoing and one had recently been awarded.

In Dawakin Tofa, the ministry assessed 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦11.16 billion, with 12 recorded at 100 per cent completion, three ongoing and one recently awarded.

Tofa had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦3.14 billion, of which 12 were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and three were ongoing, according to the schedules.

Shanono accounted for 21 project entries valued at approximately ₦7 billion, with 14 recorded at 100 per cent progress, four ongoing and three recently awarded.

In Gwarzo, the monitoring schedules contained 23 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.08 billion, with 21 recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and two ongoing.

Bagwai had 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.01 billion, comprising nine recorded at 100 per cent progress, six ongoing and one recently awarded.

Major Road Projects Require Further Monitoring

Despite the progress recorded in several areas, the monitoring report identified a number of major road projects that remained under construction and would require further assessment.

The report placed the Janguza–Durum–Kabo–Karaye road corridor in Kabo at 48 per cent physical progress, while the Hawan Ganji–Badari–Kadere road in Gwarzo was recorded at 67 per cent.

Similarly, the five-kilometre road project in Shanono was recorded at 65 per cent physical progress, according to the monitoring schedules.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to engage implementing agencies and contractors to address delays, incomplete works and quality concerns, with follow-up inspections expected to focus on compliance with project specifications and agreed implementation milestones.

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Maaji also said the ministry would apply corrective measures where necessary and pursue further technical reviews to ensure that public funds translated into infrastructure that met the required standards.

Education Projects Show Mixed Progress

On educational infrastructure, the commissioner said investments in classroom construction, school renovations, furniture and sanitation facilities were intended to improve learning environments and support access to quality education across the state.

However, the monitoring schedules showed varying levels of progress among some education projects, including classrooms at Government Junior Secondary School, Badau, in Bagwai, which were recorded at 55 per cent completion.

The report also placed the GAA/GGSS Badau project at 16 per cent physical progress, while the Government Technical College project in Gwarzo was recorded at 72 per cent.

Maaji said the ministry would continue to monitor such projects and work with the relevant implementing agencies to address delays and ensure that construction and rehabilitation works were completed in accordance with approved specifications.

He added that the government’s investment in schools and related facilities must produce tangible improvements for students and communities rather than remain limited to expenditure on contracts.

Security, Streetlighting and Healthcare Facilities

The monitoring exercise also covered neighbourhood security facilities, solar-powered streetlighting, healthcare infrastructure and water supply projects across the six local government areas.

According to the report, neighbourhood security divisional offices in several areas were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress, while the corresponding project in Dawakin Tofa stood at 85 per cent.

The report further indicated that solar streetlighting projects in Bagwai and Shanono were at 35 per cent progress, while the project monitored in Kabo was recorded at 100 per cent.

In the health sector, the rehabilitation of Shanono Primary Health Centre was recorded at 84 per cent physical progress, while a hand-pump borehole project in the area was listed as completed.

Maaji said investments in healthcare, water supply, rural electrification and security infrastructure were important to public welfare, community safety and improved living conditions.

He explained that the ministry would continue to assess the quality and functionality of such facilities to ensure that they served their intended purposes and provided lasting benefits to residents.

Kano Introduces Digital Project Monitoring System

Beyond physical inspections, Maaji announced that the ministry was strengthening project oversight through a digital initiative under the Kano State Integrated Project Monitoring System, accessible at kanoprocurement.ng.

He said the system was intended to improve the organisation of project information, geographical tracking, visibility and reporting of implementation progress, while allowing field evidence to inform management decisions.

According to him, the ministry would continue to improve the completeness and reliability of project data and strengthen follow-up reporting as part of efforts to make monitoring more effective.

Maaji said the use of digital tools would enable the government to improve access to information about public projects and strengthen its ability to identify implementation challenges and take appropriate action.

Digital Procurement Platform Goes Live

The commissioner also announced that the Kano State Digital Public Procurement Platform had gone live at procurement.kn.gov.ng, describing the initiative as an important step towards improving transparency and accountability in public procurement.

He said the platform was designed to promote structured and traceable procurement processes, improve planning and documentation, strengthen audit trails, widen access to procurement opportunities and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

Maaji added that the initiative was also expected to support more efficient procurement processes and improve value for money in government spending.

He said the reform was intended to support the objectives of the Kano State Public Procurement Law, 2021, but stressed that its effectiveness would depend on adoption by the 10 pilot ministries, departments and agencies, sustained capacity development and compliance with applicable regulations.

The commissioner maintained that digital infrastructure alone could not guarantee accountability, noting that effective implementation, proper documentation and adherence to established procedures remained essential to achieving the desired results.

Government to Extend Monitoring Across 44 LGAs

Maaji said the ministry’s priorities included sustaining routine and follow-up monitoring across all 44 local government areas in Kano State and engaging implementing agencies and contractors to resolve delays and incomplete projects.

He added that the government would strengthen project data management and geographical reporting through the Integrated Project Monitoring System while supporting the gradual adoption of the digital procurement platform.

According to him, the ministry would also prioritise quality assurance, procurement compliance and demonstrable value for money in the execution of public projects.

Maaji further announced plans to sustain evidence-based public communication and transparent reporting of monitoring findings through town hall meetings across the state’s 44 local government areas.

He called on implementing agencies, contractors, professional bodies, civil society organisations, the media and members of the public to support the government’s efforts to improve project monitoring and public accountability.

The commissioner commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his leadership and acknowledged the contributions of the ministry’s technical officers and media team to the monitoring exercise.

He said the ministry remained committed to ensuring that monitoring served as a practical instrument for accountability and improved service delivery.

Maaji said every public project must be accounted for, every public investment justified and every public resource translated into meaningful benefits for the people of Kano State, with measurable value for money.

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Muhammad Hussari Makes INEC Final List as APM Governorship Candidate in Kano

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20 hours ago

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October 12, 2026

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Former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Hussari Bashir Galadanchi, has made the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Kano State.

Hussari’s name appeared on the list alongside that of his running mate, Abdullahi Umar Protocol.

Hailing from Sarina in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State, Hussari is set to challenge incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Ibrahim Ali Amin Little, in the governorship election.

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Born in 1979, Hussari is an Oxford-trained negotiator. He obtained a degree in Business Administration from Bayero University Kano in 2006 and a certificate in Negotiation Skills from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

He began his formal education at Gwale Special Primary School before proceeding to Rumfa College, Kano, for his secondary education.

Hussari served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, representing Gwale Federal Constituency. Between 2015 and 2019, he served as Senior Special Assistant to former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Beyond politics, Hussari also served as Chairman of Success Vision International Limited in the United Kingdom.

His background in business, legislative affairs and negotiation is expected to feature prominently in his campaign as he seeks to secure the governorship of Kano State under the APM platform.

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