Nigeria Reviews Child Rights Act Amid Rising Abuse Cases

The Nigerian Federal Government has initiated a review of the Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003, led by Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, due to increasing inadequacies in addressing contemporary threats to children, including cyber exploitation. Fagbemi noted that the legal framework, established two decades ago, fails to reflect current realities, such as modern forms of child exploitation, including recruitment into terrorist groups and online abuse.

The review committee, chaired by Justice Eberechi Suzzett Nyesom Wike, aims to fundamentally reassess the CRA, potentially requiring its repeal and re-enactment to create a robust child protection framework. Key areas of examination include safeguarding children's rights, prohibiting harmful traditional practices, and improving the handling of sexual and gender-based violence cases.

Fagbemi highlighted the uneven implementation of the CRA across states and called for uniform enforcement to ensure every child is protected. The reform efforts align with President Bola Tinubu's declaration of 2026 as the year for social development and family welfare in Nigeria.