The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for urgent and comprehensive reforms to address the plight of millions of Nigerian children, particularly those trapped in the Almajiri system and subjected to street begging.
This was contained in a statement signed by the organisation’s Programme Communications Officer, Furera Isiaka, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
According to the statement, CHRICED expressed concern over the systemic neglect of children in Northern Nigeria, describing their condition as a national emergency requiring immediate and decisive intervention.
“Children are not the problem; they are victims of failed policies, weak enforcement, and societal neglect,” the statement read. “This Children’s Day must be a turning point where hollow promises are replaced with bold and lasting reforms.”
The organisation lamented the current state of the Almajiri system, noting that it has deviated from its original purpose of offering religious education and has instead become a channel for abuse and exploitation.
“Instead of receiving education and care, Almajiri children, some as young as three years old, are forced into the streets to beg, hawk, and engage in menial labour. They are exposed to abuse, trafficking, and unimaginable hardship,” CHRICED stated. The organisation called for a complete overhaul of the Almajiri system, advocating the integration of formal education and vocational training. It also urged the strict enforcement of regulations
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