By Mustapha Mohammed
A NonGovernmental Organization (NGO), the Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative (GIOPPINI) in Kano, has made a scathing observation on how over two million underaged children are living in an unsafe environment.
“These Street Urchins sleep in unsafe and unhygienic environment in Kano and are exposed to various health and safety hazards everyday,” the Executive Director of the group, Mohammed Ali Mashi told Journalists in an interview.
Mohammed Mashi sounded the alarm saying the estimate was arrived at, following a through research and scientific survey conducted by GIOPPINI, a development that necessitated the need to draw government attention to the challenge.
Mashi said the street children were found to be dwelling in several locations across Kano metropolis, including Race Course, Central Hotel and Railway Station areas, Nassarawa Hospital Road, Dangi Bridge, Zoo Road, Ado Bayero Bridge popularly known as (Gadar Lado), New Road in Sabon Gari, Mariri and Kofar Ruwa Parks.
“This situation is very alarming and we are calling on government agencies, community leaders, religious institutions and Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) to join hands together in tackling the escalating crisis,” he warned.
“From our survey, the executive director explained, “many of these street children migrated from neighboring states, but some are from rural communities in Kano, pushed out by poverty. They are in Kano under the pretext of seeking Quranic education, but they ended up sleeping in an unsafe environments”, he said.
However, he noted, due to hunger and lack of proper care, they abandoned their respective schools to begin to search for food and survival, noting that over time, they become disconnected from the education process entirely and are drawn into street life, which exposes them to crime, exploitation and eventual conflict with the law.
Mashi warned that if urgent steps are not taken, Kano risks becoming a “powder keg,” as the unchecked activities of these street children could lead to widespread insecurity and social unrest.
“The issue is not only a humanitarian concern but also a threat to peace and stability in the state”, he emphasised.
He therefore urged stakeholders to prioritize the rehabilitation and reintegration of these children through structured programmes that provide shelter, food, healthcare, and education.
The executive director also stressed the importance of strengthening family support systems and addressing poverty in rural areas, which often drives children into the streets in the first place.
He also emphasized the role of religious leaders in sensitizing parents and guardians on the dangers of neglecting their children and the wrath of their actions before Almighty Allah, the creator.
“While the pursuit of Quranic knowledge is noble, it must be balanced with proper welfare and supervision to prevent children from drifting into destitution,” he noted.
Mashi then called for a coordinated government policy framework that would regulate the movement of children across states, ensure accountability among school proprietors, and provide sustainable opportunities for vulnerable families. “Without such measures, the cycle of poverty, neglect, and crime will continue to expand, leaving Kano and its people in a precarious situation,” he warned.
