The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to protect vulnerable residents, recording 1,437 child abuse and welfare cases while also handling 9,659 medical welfare cases across the state within the review period.
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Ogunlende said the Child Protection Unit carried out over 5,708 interventions involving child abuse, trafficking, neglect, abandonment, counselling, rescue operations, rehabilitation, legal services and psychosocial support for affected children and families.
According to him, 520 child protection cases were successfully concluded during the period under review.
The commissioner highlighted several rescue operations carried out by the ministry in collaboration with security agencies following viral reports of child abuse and neglect across the state.
He recalled the rescue of two children allegedly abused by their mother, another three-year-old child found in severe neglect, and two boys reportedly locked indoors for over two months without proper feeding or education.
Ogunlende also disclosed that the ministry rescued a child with special needs allegedly exploited online by a social media influencer for fundraising purposes.
He stressed that the state government would continue to take decisive legal action against parents, guardians and caregivers involved in child abuse, trafficking or exploitation.
On healthcare support, Ogunlende said the Medical Social Services Unit of the ministry handled 9,659 welfare-related medical cases involving indigent, abandoned and traumatised patients receiving treatment in government-owned hospitals.
He explained that the ministry spent over N3.99 million on medications, surgeries, dialysis, investigations and other medical consumables for vulnerable patients unable to afford treatment.
The commissioner added that HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services were provided for 27,582 persons in collaboration with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, while blood donor screening was facilitated for 2,317 residents.
According to him, the Lagos State Employee Wellness Centre also handled 900 mental health-related cases involving anxiety, depression, stress, grief, workplace conflict and substance abuse among public servants.
Ogunlende reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to strengthening child protection, healthcare support and psychosocial services for vulnerable residents across Lagos State.