Again, SDS warns against abuse of orphans, vulnerable persons

By Stanley Onyekwere

For the umpteenth time, the FCT Social Development Secretariat, (SDS), has warned against abuse of orphans and other vulnerable persons in the nation’s capital city.
To this end, SDS said there was no going back on its fight against child trafficking and other inhuman activities in the Territory.
Making this point, SDS Acting Secretary, Safiya Umar, said the FCT Administration was not against individuals setting up orphanages, but remains resolute to ensure their operations will be within the confines of the law.
Umar made this assertion when she visited FCT Unity Children’s Home, Gwako under Gwagwalada Area Council, on Tuesday.
“FCTA is committed to the welfare of orphans and vulnerables, so the report that says after evacuation of children from Jiwa to Gwako, nothing serious has been done, is false.
“The children under our care are safe, they enjoy education, good feeding and other things that can make them happy.
“All Nigerian hands should be on deck, wherever you are coming from, which ever state, FCT Unity Children’s Home is a melting pot.
“Children either abandone by their suspected parents, those pick by security agencies or beggars on the street, every child of the 36 states is here, so nobody should feel restrained or sentimental in helping the unity school/ home,” she said.
The Secretary regretted some reports that were fronted by human rights lawyers accusing the secretariat of not doing well was misleading.
She urged spirited individuals to evolve measures that will assist the government in caring for the children, saying FCTA was doing well but needs support from well to do Nigerians.
Similarly, the Director Gender Department of the SDS, Agnes Hart, said the unity home presently has one hundred and twenty children, comprising boys and girls in separate hostels.
She said, “The child’s right act as it is, at the expiration of the three months, the child becomes eligible for fostering. Every child deserves to have a home of his or her own.”
The Director, who said there was enough food items for the children both at the unity home and the secretariat, conducted journalists round the facilities as well as the food stores.