Children in several parts of Nigeria work in unregulated mines in search of tin and lithium. A recent report by German public service broadcaster, DW, highlighted the risks in northern Nigeria and some parts of the west.
There is little government oversight of the unregulated mining industry and the revenue appears to going to cowboy operators. A kilo of tin sells for about 10 euros, while 50kg of lithium sells for 140 euros. There has been an exponential increase in demand for lithium as environmental concerns have boosted the market for electric cars. Lithium is used for the batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices. About two years ago Nigeria was reported to have discovered “high grade” lithium which the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Abdulrazaq Garba, has described as “hot cake”.
However, the DW report said that no revenue is going to the government from this “hot cake” in “an industry ripe for corruption”. Poverty is driving many children to bandon schooling and take the risk of working in the mines. The extraction of lithium comes with many environmental hazards that include water contamination, respiratory problems, and so on. While the use of child labour is outlawed in Nigeria, there is minimal enforcement of the law especially in remote areas.
One of the children interviewed said the work helps put food on his family’s table. That’s all that matters to them.
