By Felix Kuyinu
The Lagos State Government, LASG, has promised to refurbish the Special Childrens’ Centre in Ketu and also ensure better welfare at the facility.
LASG through the Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, assured that it will initiate measures which will enable dividends of democracy for the disabled, safeguard their fundamental rights and also ensure they have a voice in the society.
While countering the impression that the state government has jettisoned the planned renovation of the facility in Ketu alongside neglect of the disabled, the Commissioner said: “The Children Centre in Ketu is slated for renovation and upgrade to serve the pupils better.
“The story that the Government is not doing enough to help people living with disabilities does not only lack balance, objectivity and fairness which are the tenets of true reportage; but the entirety of the story is a misinterpretation of facts as far as the issue of taking care of the disabled is concerned in Lagos State.
“The decision to shut down Ketu Special Children’s Centre was arrived at following a thorough examination of the facility which revealed there was an absolute need for renovation, rehabilitation and restructuring to serve the purpose better.
“Rather than jeopardise the lives of our innocent children under the guise of keeping them in a government-owned facility, we then decided to relocate them to the Children Correctional Centre for Junior Boys, Yaba, where they are getting necessary specialized care, support and services. The overarching consideration was in the best interest of the children under our watch. More than any other thing, their safety and total well-being mattered to us as a government.
“We are pleading with members of the public to bear with the government until the needful is done concerning the Ketu Special Children’s Centre.”
