Adamawa Children Forced into Waste Picking Amid Poverty, Climate Disasters
In Adamawa State, worsening poverty and climate-related disasters are forcing children to pick waste for survival instead of attending school, raising urgent child protection concerns. Droughts, flooding, and environmental stress have destroyed livelihoods, leaving families with limited income and children exposed to dangerous work. In communities like Hayin Gada, children work barefoot collecting recyclables from trash, risking injuries and exposure to disease.
A 12-year-old boy, described his daily routine: collecting iron and bottles to sell for pocket money, while missing school entirely. Another child, said floods destroyed his family’s farmland, leaving waste picking as the only source of livelihood. Experts warn that such conditions undermine children’s right to survival, education, and health, and increase vulnerability to disease, malnutrition, and social exploitation.
Climate change advocate Sir Amb. Richard Akase Inyamkume highlighted that environmental stress worsens food insecurity, spreads diseases like malaria and cholera, and contributes to communal tensions, which further threaten children’s safety. He stressed the importance of structured interventions, including safe waste management, access to education, and social support programs.
State stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, and community leaders, must act to safeguard children by providing basic services, food security support, and supervised, safe environments for learning. Protecting children from hazardous labor and ensuring their right to education is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. Without coordinated action, the youngest and most vulnerable risk long-term harm to their health, safety, and future prospects.
