Illegal Nigerian Lithium Mines Exploit Children in Dangerous Conditions

Growing global demand for lithium fuels child labor in unregulated mines, with children working long hours in hazardous environments to support their families.

• Unregulated lithium mining in Nigeria has surged due to global demand for the mineral, critical for batteries used in electric vehicles and clean energy storage.
• Children as young as five work in unsafe conditions, sorting and extracting lithium-rich rocks for minimal pay, often at the expense of their education.
• Illegal mining operations thrive on weak enforcement of labor and mining laws, with corruption allowing businesses to bypass regulations.
• Chinese companies dominate the lithium market in Nigeria, often purchasing materials without verifying their origins or labor conditions, despite official denials of wrongdoing.
• Efforts to address child labor and illegal mining include proposed legal reforms, enforcement programs, and social initiatives, but their impact remains uncertain.

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