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Once a sanctuary for vulnerable children, the Lagos Juvenile Welfare Centre is now a shadow of its former self due to neglect and insufficient funding. This report delves into the challenges faced by the center, established to provide emergency shelter and care, as it struggles to accommodate abused and abandoned children.
Children facing abuse, ranging from physical and emotional harm to trafficking and neglect, often encounter significant barriers to justice, exacerbated by systemic failures. Jessica (a pseudonym) is one such child. At just 15, she endured horrific abuse, including repeated sexual assault by her stepfather, Fred, which resulted in two pregnancies and forced abortions. Despite Fred’s arrest in April 2024, finding a safe haven for Jessica became a challenge for Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN), a group involved in the case.
Jennifer Nwosu, an ACVPN case manager, recounted the ordeal: “The police initially suggested sending Jessica back home, despite her having revealed the extent of her abuse. When we objected, they advised taking her to the state Ministry for Youth and Social Development. Frustratingly, the police even suggested that we shelter her ourselves.”
The Juvenile Welfare Centre, once a thriving hub established over 50 years ago at the Alakara Police Station in Lagos, was supposed to be a safe place for children in dire situations. However, due to poor conditions, children are now turned away. Once a temporary refuge for vulnerable children, the center’s ability to provide care has significantly declined.
In another tragic case, a 15-year-old deaf girl was brutally exploited and raped multiple times by adults she trusted. Unable to speak, her suffering only came to light when her younger sister, who understands sign language, revealed the truth. Despite the arrests of the alleged perpetrators, the girl remained in the same unsafe environment due to the lack of suitable shelters.
Further highlighting the issue, in May 2024, the Lagos State Police rescued two infants abandoned by their mother, who struggled with substance abuse. Shockingly, the children had previously been returned to their mother after an initial rescue due to the shelter’s inability to accept them.
Police sources revealed that the centre, once staffed by over 20 officers, now struggles to function. Lack of funding has led to a decline in services, forcing police officers to house abused children in unsafe conditions or even take them home themselves for the night.
Despite UNICEF’s pledge to renovate the center and build a second floor to increase capacity, the project never materialized. A former police officer who worked at the center confirmed that many of the essential resources, such as beds and food, were now reliant on donations.
During a visit to the center, it was evident that the facility was in severe disrepair. Six children, aged two to six, played in the reception area. Inside, torn mattresses and damaged furniture posed serious hygiene and safety risks. The roof had deteriorated, water was fetched from outside, and power outages were frequent.
Experts warn of the lasting psychological damage caused by returning abused children to unsafe environments due to the center’s inability to provide shelter. Dr. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director of Project Alert, called the situation “distressing,” urging the state government to intervene through the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Agency.
The Lagos State Police Command, while acknowledging the centre’s limitations, clarified that it does not reject children outright but instead works to secure alternative placements through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. However, the overcrowded state of government shelters means the center’s decline continues to affect the most vulnerable.
