By Ngozi Nwoke
The current economic downturn in Nigeria has taken a devastating toll on families, making it increasingly difficult for them to provide basic necessities like food for their children. Sadly, this has led to a surge in child labour, as many young ones are forced to work to support their families.
Twelve-year-old Andrew Japhet’s face contorted in distress as he sat by the roadside, sweating under the scorching sun.
His basket of sachet water lay beside him, a constant reminder of his daily struggle. Andrew had just chased after a commercial bus to sell some sachets of water. He was able to sell only two sachets worth N50.
“I hawk sachet water and run after buses and cars every day,” he lamented. Living with an uncle and his family of five at Itire, a Lagos suburb, Andrew’s situation is a harsh reality faced by many underage children forced into street hawking.
In a bid to contribute to his feeding and upkeep, Andrew narrated that he was pressured to sell sachet water. “When I come back from school every day, I go to sell sachet water with my older cousin who sells groundnuts and bananas. I also sell any day I don’t go to school. We sell on the road because my uncle lost his job as a security guard, and his wife has been struggling in her kerosene business.
“It is stressful to carry water on my head to run after people and cars, especially after school when I’m tired and need to rest,” he said, highlighting the bleak circumstances that have become his norm.
Nine-year-old Ezekiel Chimaraoke, an indigene of Ezza in Abakiliki Town of Ebonyi State, was seen skilfully jumping aboard the 16-seater bus that was just gliding towards the bus stop at Anthony at past 7pm.
His expertise in how he carried the crate of soft drinks on his head and was still able to run after buses did not leave any doubt that he had been in the trade for a long time.
In his response to the probe of the reporter, the teenager replied: “I only hawk when I return from school. My aunty said it’s a good thing to hawk so I can learn how to start my own business when I grow up.
“I have been living with her at Onipanu since I was six years old, and she also hawks African salad. My parents also support that I hawk because that’s where my aunty gets money to pay my school fees.”
When queried if he enjoys hawking and what he desires to become in the future, the young boy said, “I think I’m helping my aunty to make money for my education. I don’t like my aunty to suffer alone.
“My dream is to become a manager in a big supermarket and repay my aunty for her kindness and build a mansion for my parents. I also want to attend the university.”
Innocent Mbagwu, 12, is another child hawking sachet water and snacks at the popular Balogun market in Lagos. He shared his experience with Saturday Sun
“I’m hawking because my mother asked me to. We don’t have enough money at home, and my father is not around. I have to sell things like pure water, fruits, or snacks to help my mother pay the bills. To be honest, I don’t like hawking on the road. It’s scary, and I’m always worried about being hit by a car or getting into trouble with the police or bad people.
“Sometimes, people shout at me or don’t pay me, and it makes me feel sad and helpless. I wish I could go to school like my friends and have a better life. I’m only 12 and I am fending for my family.
“My mother is the one who takes care of me and my five-year-old younger brother. We live with my grandmother in a small house. My mother tries her best, but it’s hard for her to make ends meet. She’s always crying and worrying about how to feed us. I wish my father was around to help us, but he left us a long time ago. Sometimes, I feel like I’m the man of the house, and it’s a big responsibility for someone like me.”
In February, 2024, a multiple-vehicle accident occurred on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. A truck with a 40-ft container suffered brake failure, colliding with six other vehicles and resulting in the death of a young male hawker and injuring several others.
Just a few months later, on July 15, 2024 another devastating accident occurred on the Otedola Bridge in Lagos State. A diesel-laden tanker with the number plate GME 483XD developed a mechanical fault while in motion, crushing a young female hawker to death. The tanker also rammed into three moving vehicles.
Child hawking is a disturbing form of child labour that violates the Child Rights Act. This law protects children under 18 from engaging in work that poses physical, mental, social, or moral harm.
Such work deprives children of education, forces them to drop out of school, or burdens them with excessive workloads alongside their studies.
Alarmingly, the International Labour Organization estimates that approximately 15 million Nigerian children under 14 are trapped in child labour.
Parents, children’s advocates and the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) highlighted strategies to prevent underage street hawking, adding that policymakers and stakeholders should focus on enforcing stricter laws against child labour.
A concerned mother of two, Mrs. Regina Ireoluwa, decried that poverty which resulted from the father of her children losing his job, was the reason his 13-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter went into street hawking.
“Honestly, as a parent, it pains me to see my children hawking on the road. In our case, poverty and lack of access to quality education have forced us to rely on our children to supplement our income. My children’s father lost his job, and I’m the sole breadwinner. We struggle to make ends meet, and our children’s hawking helps us put food on the table. It’s a desperate measure, but we feel we have no choice.
“Yes, I’m aware of the risks associated with child hawking. It keeps me up at night, worrying about my children’s safety. The thought of accidents, exploitation, or abuse is terrifying. To avoid these risks, I try to accompany my children whenever possible, and I have taught them to be cautious and aware of their surroundings.
“However, I know these measures are not adequate, and I wish there were safer, more reliable ways to support my family. I have asked myself many times about the alternatives to children hawking on the road. Ideally, I would love for my children to be in school, receiving quality education that would give them a brighter future, but unfortunately, we can’t afford the fees.”
Another parent, Mrs. Irene Igwe noted: “If I’m being honest, I would love to see more support from the government and local organisations to provide affordable education, vocational training, and economic empowerment programmes for families who are unable and less privileged to afford the education and skill acquisition for their children. This would help them break the cycle of poverty and give the children a chance to thrive.”
Addressing the underlying causes such as poverty and lack of access to education, which are the major factors behind the prevalence, Mr. Okafor Prosper, FCAI, FIDAN, president, Crusade for Greater Nigeria on Poverty Eradication and Social Matters (CFGN), a non-profit organisation, noted: “Putting more effort on social protection systems, such as conditional cash transfers, as well as subsidising basic needs, providing financial support to struggling families in exchange for keeping their children in school. Communities can also benefit from grassroots initiatives that raise awareness about the dangers of child labour and advocate for the rights of children to a safe and nurturing environment.
“Partnerships with local organisations, schools, and religious institutions can create opportunities for skill development and mentorship programmes to empower children and their families. Governments in collaboration with NGOs should also invest in vocational training and adult education to help parents and guardians secure better livelihoods and reduce their dependence on child labour as a source of income.
“Creating safe recreational spaces and after-school programmes can further keep children engaged and out of dangerous situations.
There are short and long-term effects of street hawking on underage children. In the short term, street hawking exposes children to various physical risks, such as accidents, harassment, and exploitation.”
Mr. Okafor stressed that the children often endure long hours under harsh weather conditions, leading to fatigue, malnutrition, and weakened immune systems.
“Emotionally, they are vulnerable to feelings of shame, isolation and fear, as the experience robs off their carefree childhood right. In the long term, the consequences are even more profound. Many of them miss out on education, limiting their future opportunities and trapping them in cycles of poverty.
“Prolonged exposure to dangerous environments can lead to chronic stress and mental health issues, while their self-esteem and confidence often suffer due to the stigma associated with street hawking. The lack of a stable and nurturing childhood can significantly impact their ability to form healthy relationships and integrate successfully into society as they keep ageing.”
UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Mr. Samuel Sesay noted that the consequence of parents who don’t see the need to provide education for their children is the result of underage street hawking.
He said: “The abdication of responsibilities by parents who don’t see the value of education send their children in the streets to hawk.
“The impact of the conflict has led to the destabilisation of families due to the death of parents, separation of families, and the destruction of property, leading to increased poverty, destruction of educational infrastructure resulting in fewer schools that are overcrowded, thereby leading to a high rate of school dropout by children.
“Enforcement of child rights laws that protect children from exploitation and abuse. Child Rights Law prosecutes parents who send their children to hawk during the time they should be in school.
“Improve the social welfare of families affected by the conflict through government social-economic safety nets that will protect them from severe levels of poverty.”