The Child Protection Network (CPN) has raised alarm over the ongoing abuse, neglect, and killings of children across Nigeria, lamenting the poor implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA), 22 years after it was signed into law.
Newsonspot reports that at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, CPN’s National Coordinator, Olakunle Sanni, described the situation as a national emergency. He said despite Nigeria’s early commitment to child protection – being one of the first to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter – these efforts have failed to make a real impact.
Sanni cited data from UNICEF, stating that Nigeria has around 110 million children, many of whom are denied access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and safe living conditions.
“The failure to prioritise the welfare of children is a threat to the country’s future,” he warned.
While acknowledging progress such as the establishment of family courts, child protection units, and a national action plan to end violence against children, CPN said these efforts remain ineffective at the grassroots.
Sanni highlighted several challenges:
Education: Children in the FCT have been out of school for nearly three months due to an ongoing teachers’ strike.
Healthcare: Free and accessible healthcare for children under 18 is still not a reality, worsened by strikes and poorly equipped primary health centres.
Homelessness & Hunger: Poverty, conflict, and inflation have increased child homelessness and food insecurity. The once-functional school feeding programme has largely collapsed.
Safety & Abuse: Children in conflict zones face heightened risks, while CPN reports handling an average of 10 child abuse cases daily, including rape, abduction, and child labour.
Referencing specific cases, Sanni recalled the killing of a 14-year-old boy by police in Ibadan and the abuse of a teenage girl working as a house help – clear signs of a broken system.
To address these pressing concerns, CPN issued a seven-point demand to the government in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The demands include:
1. Immediate reopening of FCT schools.
2. Resolution of strikes by health and education workers.
3. Swift prosecution of child abuse cases.
4. Reintroduction of the school feeding programme.
5. Free healthcare services for all children under 18.
6. Creation of community playgrounds.
7. Access to affordable housing for vulnerable families.
CPN’s Assistant National Secretary, Michael Ejeh, also called on citizens to take responsibility for child protection, urging Nigerians to be more vigilant and proactive in safeguarding children’s rights.
Written By: Prosper Okoye
