The Lagos State Government has warned operators of unregistered or illegal orphanages to go away from the state or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
The Commissioner for Youths and Social Development Mr Olusegun Dawodu gave the directive in a statement emanating from his office on Monday.
According to him, Lagois State would continue to be hot and tough for anyone who is bent on circumventing the rule. He therefore charged residents to be continue to be security conscious and report any suspicious activity going on in their neighbourhood to the police or security agencies in order to forestall the mushrooming of crime.
Dawodu said the government would not tolerate anyone who operates illegal orphanages or “baby factories” in any part of the state.
He observed that the task of building a civil society is a collective responsibility and therefore charged all Lagosians to rise up and ensure that those who would want to tarnish the image of the state through unscrupulous activities are fished out and prosecuted.
“As citizens of a progressive society, it must be our utmost duty to protect our locality by reporting to security agencies, anytime we perceive any infraction to the peace and safety of the state,” he disclosed.
He pointed out that since the baby factories operates within neighborhoods, sincere co-operation between residents and security agencies would be expedient in tackling the menace.
Speaking further, Mr. Dawodu said such inhumane business cannot be allowed to thrive in a society where the peace and tranquility of people is the ultimate desire of government, stressing that such operation has a negative impact on our collective decency.
While commending the security agencies in the state for their resilience and swift responses towards making the state habitable for all, the Commissioner assured them that the government will not renege on its promise in supporting them for optimal performance.
Dawodu implored parents and guardians to live up to their God-given role of caring for and protecting their children and wards so they do not become vulnerable to social abuses, adding that the State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development will continue to promote ideal environment to safeguard the rights of Lagosians.