Around
15 million children under the age of 14 work in Nigeria, many of them
under extremely hazardous conditions. They do so for little or no pay
while missing out on a decent education.
The
number of children engaged in labour activities has increased steadily
since the 1970s, partly owing to the country's oil boom and high levels
of poverty. In public spaces, they sell merchandise, shine shoes or wash
feet. Others work in agriculture or in the cotton industry where they
are sometimes exposed to toxic fumes and dangerous machinery.
The number of orphaned children in the country has gone up to an estimated 12 million. Thousands roam the streets without having a place to sleep. They engage in petty crime or beg in order to survive.
In Nigeria, around 360,000 children live with HIV/AIDS. The pandemic is one of the greatest threats to compliance with child rights. Children whose parents are HIV-positive face multiple vulnerabilities, such as becoming infected themselves, the fear of losing parental care, social discrimination and neglect. Overall, HIV/AIDS is a major cause of the deepening poverty in the country.
Human trafficking from Nigeria to Europe is another pressing issue. Thousands of young Nigerian girls are trafficked to Western Europe every year. The majority of them are lured into commercial sex work with tales of riches in wealthy Europe. Experts say that child trafficking from Africa to Europe has become modern-day slavery.
Nigeria remains marked by a fairly high child mortality rate of 138 per 1,000 live births. Although the government has made noticeable efforts in the field of maternal healthcare, much is yet to be done in order to improve the situation of thousands of women and young children. 30 per cent of all Nigerian children under the age of five are underweight.
The number of orphaned children in the country has gone up to an estimated 12 million. Thousands roam the streets without having a place to sleep. They engage in petty crime or beg in order to survive.
In Nigeria, around 360,000 children live with HIV/AIDS. The pandemic is one of the greatest threats to compliance with child rights. Children whose parents are HIV-positive face multiple vulnerabilities, such as becoming infected themselves, the fear of losing parental care, social discrimination and neglect. Overall, HIV/AIDS is a major cause of the deepening poverty in the country.
Human trafficking from Nigeria to Europe is another pressing issue. Thousands of young Nigerian girls are trafficked to Western Europe every year. The majority of them are lured into commercial sex work with tales of riches in wealthy Europe. Experts say that child trafficking from Africa to Europe has become modern-day slavery.
Nigeria remains marked by a fairly high child mortality rate of 138 per 1,000 live births. Although the government has made noticeable efforts in the field of maternal healthcare, much is yet to be done in order to improve the situation of thousands of women and young children. 30 per cent of all Nigerian children under the age of five are underweight.
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