By Hannatu Abba
“Stop going to school; we have to focus on what will make us earn money. Look at Oga Zubairu, who buys these scraps from us worth 300 naira. He knows our value more than the so-called ‘yan boko.” A 9-year-old boy engaged in a deep conversation with his peer group while they were busy picking scum from a waste disposal land in the Sheka community“
In the major streets of Kano State, children aged 9 to 15 were seen roaming around communities, picking trash from waste bins or disposal land. This has become a habitual norm for children, including those with parents, orphans, and Almajirai.
Nine-year-old Salisu Hassan said, “I pick these scraps because it is the only source for me to get money. Many of my friends are into it, and their parents didn’t stop them.
As an orphan, I wake up early to gather scraps from three communities. My mom uses the money to buy some items for me during occasions or for basic needs,” says Safiyanu Musa, who is 11 years old.
Our biggest challenge is that some of the scraps are not that valuable, as we only make 300 naira per day after scavenging for 6 to 7 hours. In some cases, we are chased away by people, who call us names, or our older peers snatch valuable items from us.
“We never feel discouraged in what we do as scavengers because there is nothing good in acquiring Western education these days. The so-called Western educated ones are not as wealthy as the people who purchase our scraps. I always tell my peer group that money is the key to success, not education if I see some of them going to school,” Salisu emphasized.
In the Yakasai community, Yusuf Balarabe said that during the rainy season, he inspects all the drainage areas close to his house and other neighboring communities to search for unwanted used items.
“Anytime I go to school, my thoughts for the whole day are about missing the opportunity to earn money. So, I stopped going to school for the whole term, or I sneak out. A day I can earn 500 naira from scrapping, and it makes me happy.
In Nassarawa GRA Alu Avenue Kano, Muktar and Ayuba were seen picking used charcoal from the waste after it had been used by a tea seller.
“We don’t only pick charcoal; we pick whatever comes our way. Our survival depends on scraps; a day, my brother and I can earn 700 naira.
However, in Sharada Jaen Gidan Mariya, Abdullahi Na Mama said he loves to see how children of his age struggle to make an income. This has motivated many of us not to go to school because the scrap business can help us earn money quickly.
In Hotoro, Aliyu was spotted at 12 noon picking trash. When asked, he said he wanted to buy clothes that he could wear on Sallah.
During an interview with scrap purchaser Malam Jibril, he said the business of scraps in Sheka communities has been in existence for more than two decades. According to Jibril, in recent years, children are often at the forefront of scrutinizing waste materials, which discourages them from focusing on their early-stage endeavors compared to the days when adults were in the business.
The scrap business becomes addictive to anyone who embarks on it without considering its consequences, whether they are children or adults. Almost all the children who bring scraps know the price of items based on weight, so their focus is on collecting valuable items.
However, in the process of searching for valuable scraps, many children engage in stealing from their parents or neighbors, taking useful items such as domestic or damaged materials that require technical assistance. If they are caught during or after the process, they get into trouble, but for now, I quickly reject such materials and refuse to buy them.
Subsequently, many children search for scraps from door to door or refuse land with the consent of their parents, ignoring school intentionally because waste picking starts in the morning. Some parents rely on the scraps their children collect as a means of earning income for the family or other urgent needs.
In addition, scavengers sometimes find leftover snacks, fruits, or drinks while searching for scraps at the waste bins.
According to Human Rights activist in Kano, Khadija Aliyu Ammani, last year in April, there was a scenario involving a 13-year-old boy named Halifa, who supported his family with the money from collecting trash. Initially, I noticed his hands had a foul-smelling discharge, and upon inquiry, it was due to an accident he had while picking trash, which left him injured for two months. I promptly took him to the hospital for proper medical care and dressing.
Public Health Practitioner Dr. Musa Abdullahi Sufi stated that children are at risk while picking trash, which exposes them to dangerous common and infectious diseases. Sharp objects, including used hospital items like syringes and bottles, can be found in the waste bins and are harmful to their health.
In addition to addressing the issues faced by children, parents need to be vigilant about the kind of labor their children are engaged in to support the family. While it’s not recommended for children to be in this situation, some economic and societal problems have led to it.
A World Bank report in June 2022 indicated that Nigeria has more than 11 million out-of-school children between the ages of 6 and 15, with Kano State having 837,479 out-of-school children closely.
In a suggested approach by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), addressing the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria will require a combination of interventions. This includes reducing the cost of education by eliminating school fees, providing cash transfers, and addressing socio-cultural norms that hinder school enrollment on the demand side of the problem.