Woman Abandons 10-month Old Baby In Lagos State Secretariat

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, April 11th, 2014

A woman has abandoned her 10 months old baby behind the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Lagos Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

the abandoned baby

The baby was dumped by the mother on the bare floor as she was nowhere to be found. Passer-by saw the baby sleeping under the tree and raised the alarm which attracted help.

A woman who saw the baby and called for help, while officials of the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), the ministry in charge of such cases came to take away the baby.

Officers of the Ministry of WAPA, a few minutes later, arrived and took custody of the baby.

Director, Child Development Department of the Ministry of WAPA, Mrs. Alabi Fadairo said the child would be put in the state’s special home centre in Ketu, assuring that adequate care would be given to him to ensure he is comfortable and healthy.

She frowned at the decision of the mother to abandon her baby, saying that the state government runs a home where such babies are catered for and given the best of care.

“Every child needs a home, every child wants a mother and a father in her life, I don’t know why the mother of this child should abandon him. There are some provisions where you can take your child in Lagos state on a daily basis where he could receive care free of charge and people have been benefitting from this service.

“Nobody knows what can become of this child tomorrow; I know government, because we are very sensitive and passionate about issues of children in the state. I can assure you that the child will go to a convenient and comfortable home where he will be treated, where there are professionals there that would take him up and work on him,” she said.

She appealed to mothers with children suffering from Down syndrome to approach the state government or visit its facilities, stressing that such children could turn out to be skilled in one aspect or the other if given special care and attention.

“Our special home is in Ketu, with professionals there who manage such conditions, so the child will go there and will benefit from the facilities available. Mothers who have such children should know that abandonment is not the right attitude; there is always ability in disability. I know that if the necessary facilities are in place, these children will thrive and become something,” she added.