Nigeria’s growing lithium demand linked to illegal mining has led to child exploitation, with many children working in dangerous conditions to support their families. Investigations reveal a troubling cycle of poverty and lack of education, exacerbated by weak regulatory oversight, while local and Chinese buyers engage in a market devoid of ethical scrutiny.
With the surging demand for lithium, particularly for electric vehicle batteries, Nigeria’s unregulated mining sector has turned into a hub for illegal activities. In Nasarawa state, children are employed in perilous conditions, toiling in hazardous, illegal mines where safety regulations are nonexistent. The Associated Press’s investigation found children working long hours to help their impoverished families. Most were not attending school, with many trapped in cycles of poverty exacerbated by exploitative mining practices. Local buyers, including those linked to Chinese companies, reportedly purchase lithium without questioning its source or how it was mined, while miners admit to allowing child labour due to the dire economic situation. Activists urge the government and corporations to remedy these abuses, highlighting the urgent need for reforms and social support.
The report investigates the impact of lithium mining in Nigeria, focusing particularly on its effect on child labour. With a rising global demand for lithium primarily for electric vehicles, Nigeria has seen a rise in small, illegal mining operations where children, often orphans or from poor families, are exploited. The mining operations lack regulation and pose serious risks to the health and safety of workers, particularly children, leading to an urgent need for reform and intervention.
The issue of child labour in Nigeria’s lithium mines highlights serious human rights concerns linked to the growing demand for lithium. The exploitation of vulnerable children underscores a systemic failure, requiring urgent action from both government and corporate sectors to prevent further abuses. Only through effective regulation and responsible practices can the cycle of poverty and exploitation in illegal mining be addressed.
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