The Kano State Bureau of Statistics has refuted what it described as misleading claims published by the Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative regarding the prevalence of child begging in Kano State.
Recall that a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative, on Monday made an observation on how over two million underage children are living in an unsafe environment.
The Executive Director of GIOPPINI, Mohammed Mashi, disclosed while speaking with journalists in Kano said, “These street urchins sleep in unsafe and unhygienic environments in Kano and are exposed to various health and safety hazards every day.”
He said the estimate was arrived at following a thorough research and scientific survey conducted by GIOPPINI, a development that necessitated the need to draw government attention to the challenge.
In a statement on Tuesday by the KSBS Director General, Dr Suraj Sulaiman, the bureau clarified that the figures currently circulating in the public domain do not align with findings from its verified survey conducted across eight metropolitan Local Government Areas of the state.
“A total of 6,573 street beggars were identified during its mapping exercise. Of this number, children aged 0–10 years accounted for only 7 per cent, representing 457 individuals,” the statement said.
The bureau stated that the data shows the majority of those involved in street begging are youths aged 11–20 years, who constitute 56.4 per cent of the surveyed population.
This, it explained, indicates that the issue is largely driven by youth vulnerability linked to poverty, unemployment and limited access to education rather than the exaggerated claims about child begging being promoted.
KSBS further emphasised that poverty remains the primary cause of street begging in the state, while unemployment and low educational attainment also contribute significantly.
The statement noted that the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Abba Yusuf, has already received the bureau’s report and is taking concrete steps to address the problem.
“These efforts include the declaration of a state of emergency in education and the introduction of targeted social and educational interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of street begging,” the statement said.
The bureau also reminded organisations conducting statistical surveys within Kano State that prior clearance and official approval from KSBS is mandatory.
It is therefore called on GIOPPINI to publicly provide evidence of any authorisation granted for the survey upon which its publication was based.
Describing misinformation as harmful to public understanding and policy direction, KSBS urged the NGO to retract the publication, issue a public correction within 48 hours, and present proof of official approval for its survey activities.
It warned that failure to comply may result in legal action over the misrepresentation of official statistical information and unauthorised data collection.
KSBS reaffirmed its commitment to delivering credible, professional, and evidence-based statistics to support sound policymaking and informed public discourse in Kano State.
