THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the Social Development Secretariat (SDS), on Wednesday, took delivery of yet another baby, a male child abandoned in Sauka on Airport road, Abuja.
While receiving the baby, the acting Secretary, SDS, Hajia (Dr.) Safiya Umar noted that the rate of abandoned babies across the nooks and crannies of the FCT was becoming worrisome and very disturbing to the FCT administration.
She recalled that only yesterday (Tuesday), two babies, a female and male were found and brought to the secretariat by good Samaritans at different times and have since been named for identification purposes after the FCT Minister of State, Hajia Ramatu Aliyu and the FCT Perm Secretary, Sir Christian Ohaa, respectively.
This was made known in a statement issued and signed by the SDS Public Relations Officer, Shaka Sunday, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
She used the occasion to admonish young ladies and women in the FCT to explore and cultivate the use of “condom” if they could not abstain from premarital sex which often leads to unwanted pregnancies and their subsequent abandonment to the government.
“Naturally no responsible government will fold its hands and watch babies and innocent children been left to die by their supposed biological parents because they suddenly realized they no longer want the same child they have incubated for nine good months to live.
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“So, we shall keep accepting the children in our Homes and after the mandatory period of three months in our homes, we shall make them available for fostering and possible adoption for interested applicants and adopters.” She stated.
The secretary, however, noted that the FCT administration would soon unveil a mechanism which would address and curtail to the barest minimum the incessant and alarming rate of child abandonment in the territory.
“We shall apprehend this category of culprits, those that require rehabilitation will receive same, while others will be compelled to assume some level of responsibility in the upkeep of the child with the government. Those that have the means to cater for the child but chose to abandon will not be taught how to be responsible.” She declared.
In her own contribution, the Director of Gender, Mrs Agnes Hart, said the baby of today was sent to the Secretariat from the National Hospital, Abuja, who has been in there care since September 14, 2019, when he was brought in.
“We want to thank the management of the National Hospital, Abuja for responding swiftly to the medical needs and stability of the babe for the past two weeks before he was formally brought to the FCT Gender Department of SDS today (Wednesday).” She said.
According to her, the baby was abandoned by the roadside in sauka in a bag with the unclamped, umbilical cord alongside the placenta intact by a good-spirited Nigerian, accompanied by the Police to the NHA.
She, however, advised members of the public and residents of the territory to approach the Secretariat for further enquiries about the three babies found and returned to the Secretariat, noting that the administration of the minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello has put in place, relevant infrastructures, including welfare and upkeep of the infants in the FCT Orphanages to cater adequately for their special and pecuniary needs.
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