Mrs Esther Uzoma, the National Coordinator, Proactive Gender Initiatives, recently observed that there ought to be foster homes in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to take care of children, their juvenile challenges and enhance the administration of justice.
According to her, the closest foster home to FCT is in Kaduna, while Abuja has none and there is no definite court assigned to handle juvenile cases.
Uzoma, a human rights activist, said that absence of definite court for juvenile cases and foster homes poses a challenge to the administration of justice in that regard.
She further observed that there was no proper institutional frame work to deal with young persons who are alleged to have committed crimes.
“Foster homes are different from prisons but a training centre; the prisons are detention places where convicts are kept awaiting trials by the order of a court.
The home could also serve as a place where persons who have not attained the age 18 years old are kept for committing crimes.
“It is, indeed, a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home or private home of a certified caregiver referred to as a foster parent.
“Normally, the placement of the child is normally supervised by the government or a social service agency.
“But in FCT, no proper institutional frame work to deal with young persons who are alleged to have committed crimes.
“In a magistrate’s court, any person that is less that 16 years of age are kept in foster homes,’’ she said.
Uzoma expressed concern that whenever young person’s misdeed is brought for justice, they are usually remanded in police stations or adult prisons, observing that such person’s psychology would be affected in that way.
She said that if the young ones who were alleged to have committed crimes were rehabilitated through certified foster homes, they could be useful and contribute to the nation’s development.
“So, let there be social services secretariat that should offer hands-on-deck services to these young persons,’’ she advised.
Similarly, Mr Sylvester Uhaa, the Executive Director of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, said that apart from citing foster homes in FCT, their nearness to courts would facilitate justice.
“Distance between foster homes and courts could hamper justice for the affected juveniles.
“Some lawyers in the FCT have also expressed concerns and challenges about the absence of a foster home in the FCT long ago,’’ he said.
He urged the FCT administration to provide foster homes in the FCT to avoid situations where children are remanded in the same place with the adults.
Mr Maxwell Opara, an activist, also said: “When you keep them with adults, it will give room for more corruption at times the judges find it difficult to remand them which is an implication of releasing someone that committed crime.
“Most juveniles are remanded in Kaduna foster homes and whenever their matter is coming up the lawyer has to travel, somewhat frustrating the administration of justice.
“I call on the FCT Administration to resuscitate the Stella Obasanjo Child Care Trust Fund in Bwari to a foster home.
“Similarly, there are facilities that can be useful for foster homes in Gwagwalada, Abuja,’’ Opara said.
Sharing similar sentiments, some analysts observe that most children are victims of abuse and neglect, a situation that they believe calls for foster care system.
According to Mr Olugbenga Bamishile, a public speaker in Abuja, the practice of foster care has evolved over time and the practice has reached better standard, especially in developed countries.
Citing the Children’s Aid Society in the U.S. as an example, he said that there ought to be a systematic planning for organised foster homes.
He called on stakeholders to discuss a series of recommendations that would enable the authorities to develop improved and hopeful path for the vulnerable children and youths.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
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