Rivers State Government has promised to revamp the different Rehabilitation Homes in the State for the overall social and mental well-being of the vulnerables.
The Commissioner, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Arugu Ilamu, made the promise during his official tour of the state-owned rehabilitation facilities including the Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe, Motherless Babies Home, Remand Home and Safe Home, in Borikiri, Port Harcourt, recently.
Speaking to newsmen, Ilamu commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his tireless efforts in ensuring the smooth functioning of the homes stating that the Ministry under his administration would leave no stone unturned in expediting and implementing actions on the needs of the homes.
Ilamu explained that his visit to the homes was necessitated by the Governor Fubara-led administration’s top priority to cater for the welfare of the vulnerable in the State, which he said would be achieved by a firsthand information and knowledge of the happenings in the homes, assuring that the situation in the homes would be improved to meet the standards of rehabilitation homes.
In his words, “Upon resumption of office, I was briefed of our facilities and it is only right that I come and take a firsthand look at the place and get a firsthand knowledge of what is going on here.
“I want to begin by extensively thanking our dear Governor, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, for providing the enablement to take care of these homes and children. He is doing a wonderful job and we are going to make sure we put in our best to accelerate the solutions to whatever problems we have come to see”.
Ilamu who stressed the importance of good mental state of the rehab patients insisted on fast tracking some of the protracted and lingered cases with a call on the staff of the different homes to shun laxity and live up to their duties.
“All the cases here that we know that want to go home and are qualified, please, do me a memo as fast as possible let’s see how we can fast track it and let them have their peace. This is because when you are not where you are supposed to be, it’s like a solitary no matter the environment. It’s your conscience, your heart, that is the most important thing. So, let’s fast track these cases”.
He noted that some of the facilities particularly the Safe Home were underutilised, saying “we will make sure that cases that are supposed to be referred here come here. So, please, all staff in charge, take this seriously”.
The Commissioner further noted the kind gestures of donors within and outside the state towards the homes regretting however that such efforts were not recorded for recognition and appreciation by the State government.
“I know that there are good Nigerians who help us in this work but they are not mentioned. They are not being appreciated and that should stop. From today, any Nigerian who comes to this home to donate one Kobo, we want to hear their names because we need to appreciate them publicly”.
“That is the only way we can show goodwill. People cannot come and donate things and nobody is telling them thank you. No society grows like that. If people notice that they are being appreciated, they will do more to assist the government because government cannot do it all on its own. We need to start to learn to tell people thank you”, Ilamu stated.
Some of the Rehab Patients who were there on account of drug abuse, drug addiction, accident, anger mismanagement among others insisted that their mental state had improved tremendously, courtesy of the homes.
They further commended the state governor and the ministry for the care and attention accorded them and prayed God to endow the administration with more grace and progress.
Ilamu was accompanied on the tour by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Justina Jumbo alongside other Directors of the ministry.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu