By Prosper Okoye
The Child Protection Network (CPN) has expressed concern over the continued abuse, neglect, and killings of children across Nigeria, stating that 22 years after the Child Rights Act (CRA) was signed into law, its implementation remains largely ineffective.
The group made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, where it highlighted widespread violations of children’s rights across the country, with little to no accountability for perpetrators.
According to CPN’s National Coordinator, Olakunle Sanni, the failure to prioritise the welfare of children poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s future. He cited statistics from UNICEF indicating that the country is home to approximately 110 million children, many of whom lack access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and protection.
Sanni recalled that Nigeria was among the first countries to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, followed by the passage of the CRA in 2003. However, he said these commitments have not translated into real change.
He acknowledged some progress made since the CRA was enacted, including the creation of child rights implementation committees, child protection units in security agencies, family courts, and the recent launch of a national action plan to end violence against children. Yet, he noted that these efforts have not produced the expected results on the ground.
“Children in many parts of the country still face violence, exploitation, and abuse. Many are out of school, live in unsafe environments, and lack access to essential services,” he said.
He cited the prolonged strike by teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, which has left children out of school for nearly three months, as one of the setbacks affecting child welfare. He also described how many public schools remain in deplorable conditions, while children in conflict zones are exposed to further risks as their schools have been turned into hideouts for armed groups.
On healthcare, he lamented that no tier of government has made healthcare services fully free and accessible to all children under 18, noting that many primary healthcare centres lack drugs and qualified personnel. He added that ongoing strikes by health workers have further denied children access to even basic medical services.
Sanni also pointed to growing homelessness among children, driven by poverty, unemployment, conflict, and rising living costs. He criticised the lack of government action to address shelter needs or strengthen care for homeless and street-connected children.
He added that hunger is becoming more prevalent, as families struggle to feed their children due to worsening economic conditions. The school feeding programme, he noted, which once provided relief for many, is no longer functional in most areas.
CPN also decried the limited availability of recreational spaces for children, particularly in low-income communities, saying that most facilities are privately owned and unaffordable for the majority.
Referencing specific cases, Sanni mentioned the killing of a 14-year-old boy by police in Ibadan and the abuse of a 14-year-old girl house help, among several others. He said CPN members handle an average of 10 child abuse cases daily—including sexual abuse, neglect, physical assault, child labour, and abduction—yet the justice system remains slow and ineffective in prosecuting offenders.
In response, the organisation issued a seven-point demand to the government in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These include the immediate reopening of schools in the FCT, resolution of strikes by health and education workers, prompt prosecution of child abuse cases, reintroduction of the school feeding programme, provision of free healthcare for children, establishment of community playgrounds, and increased access to affordable housing for indigent families.
Also speaking, CPN’s Assistant National Secretary, Michael Ejeh, called on citizens to take responsibility for protecting children by paying closer attention to their welfare and taking preventive action against abuse.
