In northern Nigeria, children are being drawn into hazardous work in the country’s unregulated lithium mining sector, Euronews reported on Friday. In areas like Pasali village in Nasarawa State, children sort and bag rocks, often working in teams that handle up to ten 25-kg bags of lithium ore daily, the report added.
Many of these children, some as young as five, have dropped out of school or never attended due to poverty. They use crude tools to chip away at rocks, exposing themselves to physical harm and unstable working environments. Lithium, a key material for electric vehicles and electronics, is extracted under dangerous conditions, with young workers playing a significant role in the process.
The European news agency said that local merchants and mine operators acknowledge the involvement of children but cite poverty as the driving force. Government oversight remains minimal, allowing these illegal mining operations to thrive. The growing demand for lithium is fueling this shadowy trade, with much of Nigeria’s wealth in solid minerals, including lithium, lost to unlicensed operations.
Critics point to the role of international actors, including Chinese businesses, in perpetuating exploitative practices and environmental damage. Efforts to regulate the sector are complicated by the economic crisis and insecurity in the region, which President Bola Tinubu has linked to illegal mining activities.
