Impact Assessment of Child Trafficking on Human Development Index in Nigeria

Abstract

Taking children out of their protective environment and preying on their vulnerability for the purpose of exploitation seems to have become a norm in Nigeria. The Objectives of the study were to examine the level of awareness of child trafficking on Human Development Index in Rivers State, ascertain the root causes of child trafficking and to identify who are the actors and Players in Nigerian Trafficking Industry. Data was relied on both primary and secondary sources and the study adopted a field survey approach for data collection. The findings revealed that there is little prospect of the menace of the trafficking of children being eliminated from Nigeria in the nearest future unless the specters of illiteracy and poverty, unemployment and equally all the other push and pull factors are adequately addressed. Also revealed by the study is the fact that the absence of specific legislation which criminalized the trafficking of women in Nigeria prior to 2003 has a direct a direct bearing on the prevalence of cases of the trafficking of children in the study area. From the correlation analysis conducted, the study concluded that a positive and linear relationship exist between unemployment and child abuse by 3rd Party, while the least correlation coefficient of .048 exist between Poverty/Over population and illegal operation of motherless babies’ home. The conclusion is therefore, that our respondents agree that each of the five (5) factors is distinct from the others and is likely to Triggers Child Trafficking in the study area.