- UNICEF reports that 10.2 million children are out of primary school and 8.1 million are out of junior secondary school
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that they could become future bandits.
With an estimated 20 million children out of school, he described the situation as a “timebomb” that poses a serious security threat.
UNICEF reports that 10.2 million children are out of primary school and 8.1 million are out of junior secondary school.
The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey revealed that three out of four children aged 7-14 cannot read or solve basic math problems. Akpabio argued that the growing number of out-of-school children is a root cause of insecurity in the country.
Other senators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senator Simon Lalong, echoed Akpabio’s concerns, urging for immediate action.
A national summit on the issue was proposed to engage stakeholders, including representatives from all levels of government and civil society organisations, to address the crisis.