How child labor and illegal mines are fueling Nigeria’s lithium boom

Six-year-old Juliet works in a Nigerian lithium mine, earning less than a dollar daily to support her family. Her mother acknowledges Juliet should be in school but mining is their only option. Over a million children globally work in mines, a significant problem in Africa due to poverty and weak regulations. The increasing lithium demand fuels illegal mining in Nigeria, exploiting children for Chinese companies. These companies often operate without regard for labor laws or the origin of the lithium. Nigeria has laws against child labor but enforcement is weak due to corruption and remote mine locations. Primitive and dangerous mining practices endanger children's health and lives. Children earn meager wages for long hours of physically demanding work, often forgoing education. The government is implementing reforms and programs to address the problem, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. Global demand for lithium necessitates stronger government regulations and corporate responsibility to protect children's rights.