UNICEF decries jailing Kaduna children for crimes

“We do not want children to be taken to prison.”

News Agency of Nigeria • March 14, 2022

Almajiri children used to tell the story. [PHOTO CREDIT: The Guardian Nigeria]

The Kaduna government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it is making progress in strengthening child protection systems.

Wilfred Mamah, UNICEF’s child protection specialist,, stated this on Sunday.

Mr Mamah said progress was recorded in implementing the Child Welfare and Protection Law, 2018.

“We have established State and Local Government Child Protection Implementation Committees and the committee was helping significantly in the implementation of the law. We have also worked with the chief judge of the state to designate family courts, one at a high court level and another at magistrates’ court level to handle children-related issues,” explained the UNICEF official.

He added, “Plan has been concluded to train judges on family court rules and other issues critical to adjudication on children matters.”

The agency’s representative also mentioned that UNICEF was supporting the government in taking children off the streets.

Mr Mamah further explained that UNICEF supported the Kaduna government to document almajirai and develop a system that can support and address their plight.

“Like the almajirai, most vulnerable children do not have a legal identity because their birth was not registered. So, we are working with the National Population Commission, National Orientation Agency, and Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to ensure that children are properly registered and given legal identity,” Mr Mamah stressed.

The child protection specialist further said the government in collaboration with UNICEF would soon launch a “Diversion Programme,” a community rehabilitation programme for children in contact with the law.

“We do not want children to be taken to prison, so we have worked with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to set up the diversion programme,” said the UN official. “So that when children commit offences, instead of being taken to prison, they will be taken to the centre where they will be treated, counselled, reformed and reintegrated into society.”

Mr Mamah also said that the state government, with the support from UNICEF, had rolled out a safe school initiative to keep students safe in school.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.