From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State government has pledged to tackle the issue of street children and dismantle the cartel exploiting them.
Edema Irom, Commissioner for Women Affairs, made this commitment during a briefing ahead of the International Day of the Boy Child, National Children’s Day, and Day of the African Child.
She emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect children from all forms of abuse, recognizing them as future leaders.
“There is a cartel behind some of these street children who benefit from keeping them on the streets,” Irom stated. “They give them different names and try to make them comfortable staying there.”
The government plans to implement a comprehensive strategy to crack the cartel and remove children from the streets. This strategy will involve collaboration with various stakeholders and a deliberate approach to addressing the issue.
Irom also acknowledged the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which revealed concerning statistics about child labour, violence, and female genital mutilation in Cross River State. The government is committed to improving these indicators and protecting children’s rights.
“We are a people-first government that includes children,” Irom affirmed. “We will touch the lives of these children with various interventions.”