The AP report discusses the rise of child labour in Nigeria’s illegal lithium mines due to increasing lithium demand for electric vehicles. Children work in dangerous conditions, and illegal mining operations thrive with minimal oversight, often selling to Chinese companies without accountability.
A recent Associated Press report highlights the alarming situation of child labour in illegal lithium mines in Nigeria, driven by surging global demand for lithium for electric vehicle batteries. In the Nasarawa state, children work in hazardous conditions in unregulated mines to support their impoverished families. Interviews with miners revealed the use of primitive and unsafe mining techniques, while illegal networks facilitate the sale of lithium to Chinese companies, often without scrutiny regarding child employment and safety standards.
Lithium mining has surged in Nigeria, particularly in the remote area of Pasali, transforming it from a quiet community into a hub of illegal mining. Over the past decade, small-scale mining operations have proliferated, attracting both local and international interest, yet this boom has led to widespread exploitation of children, who are forced into dangerous work due to poverty and lack of education. The report underscores the failures in regulation and corporate responsibility that allow these practices to persist.
The AP report reveals a worrying trend: as demand for lithium grows, child exploitation in Nigeria’s mining sector rises alarmingly. Activists are calling for stronger governmental reform and corporate accountability to protect vulnerable children. The continuing prevalence of child labour highlights the urgent need for ethical sourcing practices amidst the global push for renewable energy.
Original Source: www.rmoutlook.com