Lagos Juvenile Welfare Centre, wey be place of refuge for vulnerable children, don turn to shadow of its former self due to neglect and lack of funding. The centre, wey dey located beside Alakara Police Station in Mushin, Lagos State, been dey provide emergency shelter and care for abandoned, destitute, and vulnerable children for over 50 years.
But now, the centre no dey function well again. Police officers and workers wey dey there before don leave because of lack of funding and remuneration. One police source tell our correspondent say, “In those days, over twenty police officers used to work in the centre, but now all of them have left. Most of them do not want to work there again.”
The centre used to be where missing or abandoned children and those who come into contact with the law find solace. But now, the place no dey habitable and safe again. For instance, a 15-year-old girl named Jessica (not her real name) who was a victim of defilement, abuse, and neglect, was denied shelter at the centre. Police ask her to go back home or to the state Ministry for Youth and Social Development, but dem no fit take her there.
Police officers now dey take drastic measures to protect these children. Dem dey take dem to police station or even their own homes because the Juvenile Welfare Centre no dey functional. This situation dey cause a lot of challenges for both the children and the police officers trying to help dem.
The lack of funding and support from the government and good Samaritans who used to bring food, drinks, and water to the centre, don make things worse. The centre rely heavily on donations, but dem no dey enough to sustain the place.
