Nigeria’s Lithium Rush: Child Labor and Illegal Mining at the Heart of the Boom
Source: http://apnews.com
In Nigeria, the booming demand for lithium, essential for global green energy solutions, has unearthed a troubling crisis: the exploitation of children in illegal mining operations. Thousands of minors, some as young as ten, work in hazardous conditions, exposed to toxic dust, carrying heavy ore, and laboring long hours in unsafe pits.
Despite laws prohibiting child labour and mandating basic education, widespread poverty, corruption and the remote locations of illegal mines hamper enforcement. Chinese companies dominating the extractive industry are often linked to unethical practices, highlighting a lack of accountability in the supply chain.
The Nigerian government has introduced measures, including a corps of mining marshals, to combat illegal mining. Activists remain skeptical, citing weak enforcement and systemic corruption. Ending child labour in mining requires stronger laws, corporate accountability, and investment in education and community development, ensuring that Nigeria’s future is not built on the exploitation of its children.
Read more about this story here: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/in-nigerias-lithium-boom-many-mines-are-illegal-and-children-do-much-of-the-work-2/
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