The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) is calling on the Kebbi State Government to take bold legislative steps to ban street hawking by young girls, describing the practice as a threat to girl-child development, education, and safety.

State President of the council, Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Kola, raised alarm over the increasing number of girl children hawking on the streets, warning that the practice exposes them to risks such as sexual exploitation, early sex-for-money transactions, and other forms of abuse.

“It is troubling that young girls are left to roam the streets in the name of supporting their families. In many cases, this leads to prostitution, rape, and child labour,” she said.

Kola dismissed the widely held belief that poverty is solely to blame, arguing that many women have benefited from government support programmes like home gardening initiatives. According to her, some of these women now earn enough to support their families without pushing their daughters into street hawking.

“Girls belong in classrooms, not in the streets,” Kola stated, urging lawmakers and stakeholders to fast-track the passage of a protective child rights law that directly addresses hawking, child labor, and access to education.

“We are proposing a law that will impose tough penalties on defaulters to serve as a deterrent,” she added.