Report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicated that Nigeria lose over N1.4 trillion every year to violence against children.
According to a consultant with Bauchi Field Office of the UNICEF, Mrs Rita Pele, who made it known on Wednesday, 17th July 2019 during the inauguration of the reports on Financial Benchmark and Economic Burden of Violence Against Children in Nigeria in Jos, Plateau state.
Pele further disclosed that the figures represent 1.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She explained that the figures were based on the survey conducted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in 2019 for Gombe and Plateau states in collaboration with the UNICEF.
The report further has it that on average, deaths, and disability resulting from acts of violence against children cost Nigeria N1.42 trillion, annually.
This according to the report, is equivalent to 1.6 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.
This includes physical, sexual and emotional violence against children in the country.
In his address, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr Bhanu Pathak, represented by Mr Amos Kudzala, called for increased funding by the Government at all levels to end violence against children in the country.
He added that the launch of the two reports provides first-hand information on the high economic cost of violence against children in Nigeria.
Most importantly, the report points out clearly that Nigeria records huge financial loss from cumulative loss earnings due to loss of productivity as a result of sufferings and disability associated with various degrees of violence against Nigerian children.