Children in Nasarawa, Nigeria, are forced into illegal lithium mining due to poverty, with little access to education. These operations are dangerous and exploitative, mainly benefitting Chinese businesses while local laws against child labour remain poorly enforced. Activists demand urgent reforms to protect vulnerable children and ensure accountability within the mining sector.
In Nasarawa, Nigeria, 6-year-old Juliet Samaniya, alongside many other children, is forced to work in illegal lithium mines instead of attending school. The global rise in demand for lithium, essential for batteries in clean energy initiatives, has worsened child labour conditions. Children, often paid poorly, undertake dangerous tasks in hazardous environments to help their families survive. The Nigerian government has laws against child labour, but enforcement remains weak, leading to widespread exploitation, particularly in unlicensed mines that escape scrutiny. Many children are trapped in this cycle of poverty due to a lack of proper education and economic opportunities, while illegal mining benefitting Chinese companies continues unchecked. Activists call for urgent reforms to address human rights abuses and protect vulnerable children from exploitation in mining operations.
Nigeria is experiencing a lithium boom due to its rich mineral resources, yet much of this activity is driven by illegal mining, predominantly involving child labour. Weak enforcement of existing laws prohibiting child labour and a maximum of poverty persist, particularly in rural communities. As global lithium demand increases, these illegal operations exploit vulnerable populations, primarily children, who are often forced to work instead of receiving an education. This situation poses significant ramifications for child welfare and the broader societal implications of such systemic exploitation.
The situation in Nasarawa highlights the urgent need for effective enforcement of child labour laws in Nigeria, as a growing demand for lithium compounds the challenges faced by children. Families are caught in poverty traps that force them to rely on their children’s labour, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation. Without meaningful reform and stronger regulation of mining practices, the well-being of many children remains at risk, signalling a pressing need for international attention and accountability in the lithium supply chain.
Original Source: www.seattletimes.com