ABSTRACT
This study was
intended to evaluate the effect of street hawking among teenage girls in
Nigeria. This study was guided by the following objectives; to look at the
origin and development of street hawking in Nigeria, to examine the causes of street
hawking in Nigeria, to analyze the effect of street hawking in Nigeria,
socially, economically and politically.
The study employed
the descriptive and explanatory design; questionnaires in addition to library
research were applied in order to collect data. Primary and secondary data
sources were used and data was analyzed using the chi-square statistical tool
at 5% level of significance which was presented in frequency tables and
percentage. The respondents under the study were 50 employees of the National
human rights commission, uyo branch. The study majorly focuses on the effect of
street hawking on teenage girls.
The study findings
revealed that street hawking should be banned; street hawking exposes teenage
girls to rape and sexually transmitted diseases; based on the findings from the
study, efforts should be made by the Nigerian government and stakeholders in
banning street hawking and at the same time ensuring free and compulsory
education at all levels.
TITLE PAGE
THE EFFECT OF STREET HAWKING AMONG TEENAGE GIRLS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page …………………………………………………………….. i
Declaration …………………………………………………………….. ii
Approval …………………………………………………………….. iii
Dedication ………………………………………………………….…. iv
Acknowledgement
………………………………………………….….. v
Table of
content ………………………………………………….…… vi
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
1.1 Background of the study ………………………………………… 1
1.2 Purpose of the study ……………………………………….… 4
1.3 Significance of the study ………………………………………... 4
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the study …………………………….... 5
1.5 Definition of terms ………………………………………………. 5
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review
2.1 The Concept of Human Trafficking …………………………..…. 6
2.2 The Context of Human Trafficking …………………………….… 9
2.3 Purposes and Causes of Trafficking ………………………………. 11
2.4 Legal Instruments for Human Trafficking in
Nigeria ...………...… 12
2.6 Some of the Prosecuted Crimes of Human
Trafficking in Nigeria .. 28
CHAPTER THREE: Summary, Conclusion, and
Recommendations
3.1 Summary ………………………………………………………….. 20
3.2 Conclusion ……………………………………………………..… 22
3.3 Recommendations ……………………………………………….... 22
References
…………………………………………………………. 24
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world with an
estimated population of about 140 million people (2006, Census), is endowed
with abundant human and natural resources like oil, tin, limestone, zinc,
natural gas, good vegetation and climate
which varies from being equatorial in the South, tropical in the centre and
arid in the north. This great country, 3rd world largest producer of crude oil
has about 5.3% annual growth rate but it is estimated that 70% of Nigerians
live in poverty (Tola, 2008).
The above features are legacies of decades of prolonged military
rules coupled with mis-management and corruption, which have daily impoverished
the people and made them “beggers” of a sort amidst plenty. This act of misrule
has increased anti-social behaviour amongst the populace. Sadly, the quest for
material wealth at all cost has introduced a new dimension of wealth creation
into the psyche of Nigerians-which is street
hawking.
Street hawking is the third largest criminal activity in the world
after arms and drug trafficking (Tola, 2008). In the last decade, the
phenomenon of street hawking has considerably increased throughout the world
and most especially in Nigeria. Every year, million of individuals, mostly female
are misled by decot or forced to submit to servitude.
The UN convention Against Transnational orgainsed crime (2000)
defined street hawking as follows; “the recruitment, transportation, transfer,
harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other
forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, of abuse of power, giving or
receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having
control over another person for the purpose of exploitation” “exploitation
shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or
other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or
practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs”
ANPPCAN (2010) sees street hawking as the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, habouring or receipt of female by means of threat or
use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of
power, a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments,
benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over the child for
the pupose of exploitation.
Research evidence shows that female are trafficked for the purpose
of domestic services, prostitution and other forms of exploitative labour
(UNICEF, 2007). These has been a serious
concern about the cause of street hawking in Africa as a whole and Nigeria as a
country in particular.
UNICEF (2007) has identified poverty, large family size, rapid
urbanization among others as the major factor why many Nigeria female are
vulnerable to trafficking. Parents with large family are often prone to those
traffickers deceit in giving away some of their female to city residents or
even strangers promising a better life for them. Trafficking deprives child
victims the privilege to exercise their wide range of rights, including the
right to belong and identify, the right to freedom, education among others.
ANPPCAN(2010).
As a result of this, the study on the causes, effects and remedies
of street hawking in Nigeria is worth pursuing. It is hoped that the findings
of this study will provide meaningful
information as to the stoppage of the act in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Female living in rural areas in Nigeria often lack access to
quality education, good health and other basic needs which make their parents
to entrust them in the hands of other family members who are financially
upright to help them train their female.
However, this custom has been abused by those family members or
relatives because of the exposure of these female to hazardous work,
prostitution and other forms of inhuman activities.
This act posses a serious challenges to the growth of the Nigerian
society, economically, socially and politically.
1.2 Purpose of the Study
The
purpose of this study is:
i. To look at the
origin and development of street hawking in Nigeria
ii. To examine the
causes of street hawking in Nigeria
iii. To analyse the effects of street hawking in Nigeria, socially,
politically and economically
iv. To profer solutions
to the problems of street hawking in Nigeria.
1.3 Significance of the
Study
This study will be of great importance, as it will provide
necessary information on the causes, effects and remedies to street hawking in
Nigeria. It will also provide further research in combating trafficking in
Nigeria. The study will also be useful for further purposes and for further
researches into street hawking within and outside the country.
1.4 Scope and Limitation
of the Study
The study will be restricted to the causes and effects of street
hawking in Nigeria. Solution to the problems of street hawking will also be
sought in the cause of this research.This research focuses on the causes,
effects and remedies of street hawking in Nigeria but due to finance, time and
other factors.
1.5 Operational Definition
of Terms
Child: Child in this study means any person less
than eighteen years of age
Trafficking: The recruitment, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of a
child for the purpose of exploitation.