Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has called for decisive action to address the persistent almajiri crisis in Northern Nigeria, describing it as a “time bomb” that requires immediate resolution.
He made this statement during the inaugural regional conference on population dynamics, security, climate change, out-of-school children, and vulnerable children, held in Lafia on Tuesday.
READ ALSO: Kano govt arrests 200 street beggars
Governor Sule, who also serves as the Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, emphasized the need for the region to take responsibility for solving the problem, which he said has been allowed to persist due to systemic failures and neglect. “The almajiri problem is indeed a huge issue for us. It’s time we stopped complaining and took the bull by the horns to solve it ourselves,” he said.
He warned that if the almajiri issue was not addressed, it could lead to social unrest on a scale even larger than the recent EndSARS protests.
“If we don’t act now, this could become a time bomb that could surpass the scale of the EndSARS protests,” Governor Sule cautioned.
The governor attributed the root causes of the almajiri crisis to systemic neglect and inadequate parental responsibility. He stressed the importance of educating communities about Islamic teachings, particularly the belief that it is a sin to have more children or spouses than one can care for. “We must take responsibility, and stop relying on external aid to solve this problem,” Sule added.
In his remarks, Sule outlined plans to tackle the almajiri crisis at the local level, announcing the establishment of three special schools in Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi. These schools will focus on rehabilitating almajiris and reintegrating them into society.
He also urged local government officials to prioritize agricultural development to ensure food security in Nasarawa State.
Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), commended the conference as a vital step towards addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the North Central region. He highlighted the importance of evidence-based solutions and called for actionable steps to address the educational crisis affecting vulnerable children.
Dr. Mohammed Sani Idris, Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, provided alarming statistics on the scope of the problem. He revealed that Nigeria has over 18.3 million out-of-school children, making it the second-highest country globally, just behind Pakistan. Additionally, there are over 30 million almajiris in the streets, according to the commission’s data.
In response, the commission has launched a program in Kaduna aimed at integrating 350 almajiris into formal education and skill acquisition programs. Some beneficiaries will also be sent to Islamic universities in Medina, Niger, and Malaysia to further their education.
Governor Sule concluded by urging Northern leaders to work together on homegrown solutions, stressing that no external body would come to solve the crisis. “We must wake up and solve this ourselves,” he urged, while acknowledging the ongoing efforts to provide educational and vocational opportunities for almajiris.
