The Federal Government says Nigerian children experience poverty more than adults and are likely to be deprived of all the 10 multi-dimensional poverty indicators.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, made this disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 2024 World Children’s Day celebration with the theme, ‘Listen to the Future’.
Media Talk Africa reports that the World Children’s Day, a United Nations observance day, is commemorated on November 20 every year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improve children’s welfare.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry , Mr Vincent Obi, the minister said that the 10 multi-dimensional poverty indicators include clean water, sanitation, adequate nutrition, health and education.
According to him, reports indicate that 26 percent of primary school age children, 25 percent of junior secondary school age children, and 24 percent of senior secondary school age children, are out of school.
Bagudu also said that schools and health facilities lacked or have only limited access to water, sanitation and hygiene services with low levels of essential gender-sensitive or disability-friendly services.
“At the same time, 1.3 million children have been forced to flee from their homes due to conflict.
“While the data mortality is declining, it is still high at 41 per cent per 1,000 live births, according to the Democratic Health Survey 2003-2004, stunting is still at 40 per cent and wasting is at 80 per cent. Approximately 70 per cent of households consume contaminated water,” he said.
He said that although the situation had progressed in most areas, the figures still revealed causes for concern.
According to him, the infant mortality rate is decreasing but still unacceptably high, while child poverty is a big problem as demonstrated by the indices.
He, however, said that as a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, the Federal Government had assumed a commitment to significantly improve the child welfare indicators.
