Kebbi State chapter of the National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, has called for a total ban on street hawking by young girls, describing the trend as dangerous and morally harmful.
State President of the council, Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Kola, raised alarm over the increasing number of girl-children hawking on the streets, warning that the practice exposes them to risks such as sexual exploitation, early sex-for-money transactions, and other forms of abuse.
“It is troubling that young girls are left to roam the streets in the name of supporting their families. In many cases, this leads to prostitution, rape, and child labour,”;; she said, adding that the NCWS is intensifying advocacy to curb the practice.
Kola dismissed the widely held belief that poverty is solely to blame, arguing that many women have benefited from government support programmes like home gardening initiatives. According to her, some of these women now earn enough to support their families without pushing their daughters into street hawking.
The NCWS revealed it is currently in discussions with the Kebbi State House of Assembly to consider legislation that would outlaw girl-child street hawking across the state.
“We are proposing a law that will impose tough penalties on defaulters to serve as a deterrent,”;; she added.
