The Federal Capital Territory Administration has resealed Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, Kubwa, Abuja, for allegedly operating without approval.
The operation was carried out on Wednesday by officials of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, led by the Director of Child Development, Dr Idris Attah.
The officials were accompanied by personnel of the FCT Police Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to the secretariat.
Attah said the facility had initially been sealed on January 6 following information from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) about children allegedly trafficked from Benue State to Abuja and admitted into the home without the required referral from the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
He said the administration subsequently placed the facility under surveillance but was surprised to receive information that the orphanage had resumed operations without official authorisation to reopen.
“When we got here yesterday, we met about 16 children and three nannies,” Attah said.
According to him, the children were immediately evacuated from the premises and moved to a safe facility where they would remain under the care and supervision of the FCT Administration.
He said the Permanent Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajiya Asmau Mukhtar, subsequently directed the Child Development Department to reseal the premises.
Attah reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting children and said FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards child trafficking.
“The FCT Administration has been warning homes and orphanages to make sure that all children are safe, cared for, and developed.
“We are calling on all orphanages and homes to operate within the confines of the law,” he said.
Orphanage operator claims FCTA licence
The operator of the facility, Mrs Grace Chubuzor, however, claimed that she had obtained a licence from the FCT Administration to operate the orphanage.
She acknowledged that the administration was not aware that she had brought children from Benue State to the facility, describing the action as a “mistake”.
Chubuzor said the children were brought to the orphanage by a man identified as Mr Achibong, whom she claimed told her that he was working with the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
The FCT Administration has not indicated whether the operator’s claim of having a licence will be considered as part of its ongoing investigation.
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