Nasarawa, Nigeria — The surge in demand for lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage, has opened new opportunities for mining in Nigeria. However, this booming market has also resulted in the exploitation of children, often from impoverished backgrounds, who work in small, unregulated mines to help support their families.
Recently, a team ventured into the remote areas of Pasali in Nasarawa state, near Abuja, to investigate the activities of miners in illegal operations, including sites where children are employed. The investigation revealed that a Chinese company was negotiating to buy lithium without any inquiries into the sourcing or extraction processes involved.
According to the International Labour Organization, over one million children are employed in mines and quarries around the globe, with the situation particularly severe in Africa due to poverty, insufficient educational access, and weak regulatory measures. Many children labor in small-scale mines under hazardous conditions, often working long hours in unsafe environments that expose them to harmful dust. Such exposure can lead to serious respiratory issues and other health complications, including asthma.
As per local miner Shedrack Bala, lithium mining began in Pasali around ten years ago, radically shifting the area’s dynamics from a quiet community to a hub for small, illegal mining operations. Bala, who started mining at 15 and now runs his own pit, highlighted that this transformation has resulted in a proliferation of unlicensed mines.
The mining techniques used are primitive and perilous. Miners rely on chisels and heavy hammers to break open rock deposits, often descending deep into dark pits. In some older mines, they maneuver through narrow, unstable passages, while newer mines might be created using explosives.
19-year-old Bashir Rabiu shared his experience of starting in the pits as a minor, illustrating the dangerous conditions as he worked near other unaccompanied children who could easily succumb to mining accidents. Rabiu retrieved raw lithium ore and handed it off to six children aged under 10, who were severely under-equipped for their tasks. These youngsters, dressed in rudimentary clothing and lacking proper gear, worked tirelessly to process the valuable minerals.
These child laborers can collectively sort and package up to ten bags of lithium mineral each day, earning a meager share of approximately 4,000 naira (around $2.42) for their extensive labor from dawn until dusk. It was noted that none of the children present at the site were enrolled in school. Two had previously attended, with circumstances driving them away—one was orphaned, while another had to prioritize her brother’s education amid financial constraints.
The illegal mining sector continues to thrive due to informal buyer-seller networks that face little government oversight. Aliyu Ibrahim, a lithium merchant in the region, operates unlicensed mines and acquires ore from other unauthorized locations. He claims his operations flourish by paying off local officials to ignore his activities, subsequently selling the lithium in bulk to Chinese enterprises.
Ibrahim acknowledges the reality of child labor in his mines but defends it by saying that many of these children are orphans or from economically disadvantaged families, arguing that their work is vital for their survival.
During the visit, miners brought their raw lithium to RSIN Nigeria Limited, a Chinese-owned company, where transactions took place without inquiry into the extraction methods or working conditions. The buyers requested samples for lithium testing and offered roughly 200,000 naira (around $119) per metric ton of material containing up to 3% lithium. Despite multiple attempts, RSIN Nigeria did not respond to inquiries, but the Chinese embassy in Abuja stated that their mining operations in Nigeria are conducted in accordance with local laws and regulations.
Activists and governmental representatives are increasingly vocal about this issue. Philip Jakpor, affiliated with the Renevlyn Development Initiative, emphasized that his organization has noted significant instances of child labor within Nasarawa. He criticized the lack of human rights protections in the context of lucrative mineral extraction.
Juliane Kippenberg from Human Rights Watch stressed the importance of upholding human rights as global lithium demand continues to escalate. Segun Tomori, representing the Ministry of Mining and Solid Minerals Development, outlined ongoing reforms, including amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act to reduce child labor prevalence and initiatives aimed at social support to ensure that children remain in school rather than working in dangerous mines. He also referenced the introduction of mining marshals to combat illegal mining activities.
