Ibadan – Oyo state government has commenced evacuation of beggars, mentally ill and destitute persons from streets and major spots in Ibadan, the state capital.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola, disclosed this to newsmen in Ibadan,
She explained that government will not rest on its oars until all beggars and destitute persons are taken off the nook and crannies of the state capital.
According to Olayiwola, Oyo State Government is determined to rid the streets of destitute persons, beggars and mentally challenged people and take them to rehabilitation centre.
“The exercise is to ensure that the lives of the evacuees and that of the general public are safe and secured.
“Their presence in the society poses danger, as some of them could be agents for criminals.
“So , we are going to profile them, engage some of them in skill acquisition programmes with the aim of enhancing their individual’s capacity to enable them live a better life,” the Commissioner explained.
The Commissioner said government was displeased with the increasing number of destitute persons and beggars swarming around major areas, such as Challenge – Orita- Ring Road- Molete – Odo Oba- Idi Arere- Bere – Oje Gate, Jembewon – Sabo- Mokola- Bodija-Eleyele- UI –Ojoo, Idi Ape- Iwo Rd -Acedemy-Monatan-;Bashorun- Akobo Oju Rin, Alesinloye- Odo ona-Apata in the state capital.
She said the evacuation exercise would be a continuous one and that the well-being of all the evacuees would be adequately catered for.
Also speaking, the permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Grace Oderinde, said destitute persons, beggars and mentally ill were constituting environmental nuisance on the streets and strategic locations in Ibadan.
Oderinde, said the state government through the Ministry Women Affairs and Social Inclusion ministry was intensifying efforts to address the menace.
She assured that all the evacuees would be adequately take care of and treated at the rehabilitation centre , Akinyele, and thereafter engage them in what would add value to their life.
Some residents who spoke on the evacuation exercise commended the state government for rising up to the challenge posed by the evacuating the destitute persons ,beggars and the mentally challenged .
They urged government to make the evacuation a routine exercise, so as to discourage alms begging by able bodied men.
The residents also appealed to government not to allow the evacuees escape from the rehabilitation centre.(vitalnewsngr.com)
