Violence against children costs Nigeria $6.1B: Report

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS Nigeria (AA) - An estimated $6.1 billion in economic impacts -- equivalent to 1.07 percent of local GDP -- is lost to violence against children in Nigeria, a report said on Thursday.

Issued by the UN children's agency UNICEF and the Nigerian government, the report said the financial loss is from the cumulative loss of earnings due to loss of productivity, stemming from suffering associated with different degrees of violence, over time.

“The cost of inaction is high, when it comes to violence against children,” Ifeoma Anagbogu, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, is quoted as saying by the report.

“Violence affects children’s health, education, and productivity. It is clear that we need to eliminate any form of violence against children – both from a moral perspective and an economic perspective,” she said

The report revealed about half of the surveyed Nigerian children experienced physical violence by parents, adult relatives, direct or indirect caregivers or community members.

“The findings of this study point to the strong need for increased funding of interventions by government to reduce violence against children in Nigeria,” said Olajide Odewale, a top official of the country's Budget and National Planning ministry.