The Lagos State Government has shut down five orphanages in the past year over serious allegations including baby trafficking and violations of the Child Rights Law of 2015.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held on Tuesday in Ikeja. The briefing marked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in his second term.
Ogunlende said the closures were part of the government’s crackdown on illegal child care operations across the state.
“We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society—our children,” he stated. “Any home involved in illegal acts such as baby trafficking will be shut down and dealt with according to the law.”
He added that the ministry has a monitoring team that regularly inspects orphanages and similar care homes to ensure they follow the law and uphold child welfare standards.
The commissioner also shared progress made in youth empowerment and social welfare. According to him, over 4,000 young people have been trained in various skills—including tailoring, fish farming, and ICT—over the past year to promote self-reliance.
In the same period, more than 200 children were rescued and rehabilitated through government programmes targeting abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
“Every child we rescue is a life saved from harm,” Ogunlende said. “We will not relent in our efforts.”
He highlighted that the state maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child rights violations and promised tougher enforcement moving forward.
