The Lagos State Government has shut down five orphanages over the past year for offences including baby trafficking and violations of the State Child Rights Law of 2015, according to Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende.

The commissioner made this disclosure on Tuesday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's second year in office. He emphasized that these closures were part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal practices and protect children's rights throughout the state.

"We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, which is why our officers work round the clock," Ogunlende stated. "Any facility found to be engaging in unwholesome activities such as baby trafficking will be decisively dealt with; we have the records with us."

The commissioner revealed that the ministry operates a dedicated monitoring unit specifically tasked with ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safeguarding the welfare of children in care facilities.

"Our monitoring team is constantly in the field, ensuring that these homes are operating within the ambit of the law," he added.

Beyond the crackdown on illegal orphanages, Ogunlende highlighted the ministry's broader social intervention initiatives, noting that over 4,000 youths had received training in various vocational skills during the past year.

"We are committed to empowering our young people. Through targeted skills acquisition programmes, more than 4,000 youths have been trained to become self-reliant," he said.

The commissioner explained that the training covered diverse vocations including tailoring, fish farming, and information and communication technology (ICT), with participants free to choose their preferred areas of specialization.

This crackdown on illegal orphanages underscores the Lagos State Government's commitment to protecting vulnerable children and enforcing the Child Rights Law, while simultaneously investing in youth development through vocational training programs.