Atleast some 237 babies, 106 male and 131 female, abandoned by their parents in the Nigerian city of Lagos have been rescued by officials.
Local media in Nigeria including the Punch reported that the Lagos State Government said these babies were rescued over a period of one year.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in the city Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf told a news briefing on Thursday that “The figure is higher than the 149 children rescued in 2015,” she added.
Government officials have now carried out an audit of all registered orphanages to help decongest them.
“The projects are in line with the government’s determination to provide quality care to the elderly. When completed, the centres will provide an interactive platform, as well as increase socialisation among the aged. The centres will be sited in the three senatorial districts in the state,” Akinbile-Yussuf added.
The Guardian in Nigeria also reported that just on Thursday, a baby was abandoned by a refuse dump in Lagos, confirming the fears of authorities who want to bring an end to this trend.
Source: Africafeeds.com
