The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) says it is concerned about the future of children known as the Almarjirai.
The Almajiris are youthful children with little or no parental care who are born in the North and left to fend for themselves through begging on the streets.
President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Professor Edward Alikor said the body was disturbed that what looks like a policy to resettle them and give them lives of their own by northern Northern Governors is being distorted.
He said it was worrisome that ” many children, called the Almajirai, evacuated from some states in northern Nigeria” are “being rejected and sent back by the receiving states.”
“We regard the decision of the northern states governors to modify the Almajirai system as a well-directed step for the future and wellbeing of these our children and Nigeria.
“The Almajirai are known to constitute over 72 per cent of the country’s 13.2 million out-of-school children”, PAN said in a statement issued by its President and its Secretary, Dr Petrollina Tabansi.
The Paediatric Association of Nigeria noted that it ” commends the responsible manner many of the states have handled the movements and resettlement of these children.”
It however observed that the implementation of the strategy in a number of reported cases, has shown that the “children that the ban is primarily targeted to protect appear to be victims of the ban rather than beneficiaries.”
“Reports abound of these children evacuated to their states of origin (ostensibly in which their parents or relations are traceable) were refused entry or moved back to the state from where they came by the receiving state”, the statement revealed.
The body said it would not pass judgment on any specific state, given events that are playing out in the polity.
“We also realize that in implementing a project of this nature, expected logistic and communication problems would arise.
“However, PAN condemns the situation where Nigerian children are treated as pawns on the chessboard of political leaders or as irritants on our shoulders to be casually, carelessly (and defiantly) shoved away in their own country.
“PAN demands that these children be treated, not just as humans, but as vulnerable persons who play no role in, and cannot take responsibility for, decisions of adults and leaders that have led to the current situation.
“We call for further engagement of all concerned state governments to resolve any disagreements, where such exists.”
It hoped that steps which would be taken would be in the best interest of the children.
The Association said it would be morally wrong to bow to what it described as an attempt to pander to “sheer technicality” or an awkward tendency of dodging responsibility.
“We also call on individuals, corporate bodies including the non-governmental organizations to assist the state governments in resettling these children in their various homes and providing them with optimal opportunities, decent and safe environment and quality education”, the statement added.