Executive Director of the Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative (GIOPPINI), Mohammed Ali Mashi, has offered clarification regarding the number of street urchins in Kano.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Mashi reacted to the statement released by the Kano State Bureau of Statistics (KSBS), noting that recent though unverified findings by GIOPPINI indicate that thousands of street children spend their nights under bridges and wander the streets, exposing themselves to serious risks.
He pointed out that his remarks were not intended to malign or target any individual or institution.
Rather, he explained, his concern stems from a deep passion and genuine commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable children in Kano.
It could be recalled that during an earlier interview with journalists in Kano, Mr. Mohammed Ali Mashi expressed concern over the growing number of street children sleeping under bridges across the city.
In response, however, the Kano State Bureau of Statistics (KSBS) dismissed the claim made by GIOPPINI, describing Mashi’s remarks as misleading.
An official statement signed by the Director General of KSBS went further to demand that the NGO retract its publication and issue a public correction within 48 hours.
According to KSBS, 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 percent, representing 457 individuals.
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 percent 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 emphasized 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 Kabir 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 Bureau also reminded organizations conducting statistical surveys within Kano State that prior clearance and official approval from KSBS is mandatory.