More than two million homeless children, commonly described as street urchins, sleep in open and unsafe locations across Kano, a report by the Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative (GIOPPINI) has revealed.
The non-governmental organisation said its findings were based on a scientific survey conducted across Kano metropolis.
Mohammed Ali Mashi, executive director of GIOPPINI, disclosed the figures during an interview with journalists.
Unsafe and Unhygienic Conditions
Mashi said the children sleep in unhygienic and dangerous environments and face daily exposure to health risks and violence.
“These street urchins sleep in unsafe and unhygienic environments in Kano and are exposed to various health and safety hazards every day,” he said.
According to him, the survey identified large clusters of homeless children in several parts of the city.
These include the Race Course, Central Hotel and Railway Station areas, Nassarawa Hospital Road, Dangi Bridge, Zoo Road, Ado Bayero Bridge, popularly known as Gadar Lado, New Road in Sabon Gari, Mariri, and Kofar Ruwa Parks.
Poverty, Migration Fuel Crisis
Mashi said many of the children migrated from neighbouring states. Others came from rural communities within Kano.
He explained that most arrived under the pretext of seeking Quranic education. However, poverty and lack of supervision pushed them into street life.
He added that hunger forces many of them to abandon school in search of food and survival.
Over time, they lose contact with formal or informal education and become vulnerable to exploitation, crime, and conflict with the law.
Warning of Security Implications
The GIOPPINI director warned that neglecting the growing population of street children could trigger wider security problems.
“This situation is very alarming,” he said.
He called on government agencies, religious leaders, community heads, and civil society groups to collaborate in addressing the crisis.
“The issue is not only a humanitarian concern but also a threat to peace and stability in the state,” he added.
Call for Rehabilitation Framework
Mashi urged authorities to prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
He recommended structured interventions that would provide shelter, food, healthcare, and education for affected children.
“While the pursuit of Quranic knowledge is noble, it must be balanced with proper welfare and supervision,” he said.
He also called for a coordinated government policy to regulate the movement of children across states and ensure accountability among school proprietors.
“Without such measures, the cycle of poverty, neglect, and crime will continue to expand,” he warned.
The organisation said urgent and sustained intervention is necessary to prevent the crisis from deepening.
