130 Abuja Orphans Reject Govt Offer Of Accommodation After Demolition Of Orphanage

The 130 homeless children from the demolished orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja, shocking everyone  yesterday, when the rejected the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) offer of alternative accommodation for them.

 

According to the children, who were brought with Police escorts to the Minister’s office from a temporary home they live in after their orphanage was demolished last week by the Department of Development Control, said their happiness would be jeopardised if they are taken to an entirely new home.

 

The orphanage, with a school and a church, known as Divine Words of Jesus Christ Church and run by a widow, had about 150 orphans including infants, was reduced to rumbles by bulldozers of the Department of Development Control of FCTA.

 

The demolition took place in spite of the fact that the said property is still entangled in litigation.

 

Meanwhile, yesterday, after the meeting with the children and some officials of Social Development Secretariat, FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Ohaa, said FCTA wanted to make sure that the children were safe and protected.

 

According to Ohaa, the administration did not want to create further psychological trauma for the children, just as he said that the administration had to concede to the children’s request to stay back with their care giver.

 

The Permanent Secretary, who noted that the children’s request will be granted, said the administration would ensure that the necessary rules for administration of orphanage in the territory was not breached.