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Economy: More children hit the streets in search of what to eat
The economy is not smiling on anybody, this time around. While the poor lament, the rich also cry. Irrespective of other perceived bad policies that fuelled this hardship, the cash crunch occasioned by naira re-design, nailed the coffin. However, the recent removal of fuel subsidies is now conducting the funeral of an otherwise deadly situation for people already impoverished.
An average Nigerian family, today, can hardly afford a good meal, let alone make it three square. The effect is telling more about the vulnerable lot – the children. Many parents, who can no longer meet the needs of their children, now send them out to do menial jobs, despite being underage.
Children between the ages of six to 12 years now hawk or beg. Others are seen with buckets of water washing cars in the traffic. For these kids, life has become a gamble. While some kind vehicle owners appreciate them with little sums, others just keep their windows shut. Some parents have also perfected the act of willingly giving out their wards to perceived rich homes in anticipation of monthly or yearly monetary remunerations. The agonising story of these lots is that these rich homes end up turning these children into slaves.
Such is the case of Tuminu Zacheaus, a boy of nine, who washes vehicles in traffic jams, as a means of survival. Narrating his ordeal, he said: “I used to attend a government primary school, until last year when my mother, who is the breadwinner of the house, asked that I stop schooling. “I was idle at home, until some friends of mine, who are of the same age, introduced me to washing cars, and I am glad doing it. “I make up to N1,000 on a lucky day.
We move from place to place, especially, where and when there is traffic in a particular location. “There are four of us in the family and I am the third child. My two eldest sisters live with a distant relative. My younger brother and I live with my mother who washes clothes for people.”Continue Reading ...
Source : VanguardNews : https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/economy-more-children-hit-the-streets-in-search-of-what-to-eat/
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