Gbenro Adesina
The efforts of the Oyo State Government in removing beggars from the streets in the state has continued to prove abortive as the beggars continue to return to all the major streets to beg for alms.
Among the areas the beggars, largely Hausa Fulani have been saturated are Akobo-Ojurin-Olorunda-Abba axis, Mokola, Gates-Molete axis, Challenge-Orita- New Garage-Akala Express axis and Iwo road.
Though, most of them look very poor but investigation revealed that begging is a profession some of these beggars cannot leave because of huge money they realise daily from it. It was further gathered that some of these beggars have been able to build houses from the proceeds of begging.
However, today, the Oyo State Government has announced its renewed plans to bring back some of the mendicants who have left the provided Akinyele Resettlement Centre back into the facility.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Omolabake Kafilat Olayiwola, stated this during an assessment visit to the facility, saying that the state government is willing to accede to some other urgent requests made by the destitute.
She appealed to philanthropic residents to patronize beggars, destitute urchins at the Akinyele resettlement, saying this is the best way to treat the destitute.
She explained that adequate care has been given to the evacuees at the new facility, which, according to her, is more habitable and conducive.
She said: “Firstly, I want to appreciate the effort of the governor concerning what he has done here. We even have some people in other states who have acknowledged the fact that the good things happening here are not being experienced in their own states. So, it is a great privilege. Concerning those among the destitute leaving this settlement the state government has provided for them, we have interviewed them and they told us that it is because those who give them food no longer come inside the settlement. So, they had to be going outside to get the food from those people. They said if the people will be coming inside to give them food, they won’t have any cause to go outside of this environment. In view of this, I want to urge some of our people who give them food to always try and come into the main resettlement centre because this is the best way to treat the destitute. We should stop giving them stuffs outside”.
“In any case, I have assured that some of the requests they have made will be tabled before His Excellency, who we know is very kind and I believe the requests will be granted. Also, we will take every necessary step to ensure that those that go outside are returned and remain inside. Another good development about this is, we are making provision for food for them and they don’t complain about that. I have worked round this resettlement and I have seen that the state government has really done well for the destitute. I commend the government for the infrastructure put in place for them and I believe many more things will come for them”, she added.
While speaking with news men on behalf of the Commissioner, the permanent Secretary, Christiana Abosede expressed satisfaction on the state of the resettlement center, stressing that the state government would continue to take good care of the residents, in as much they stay in the designated camp.
She maintained that efforts are on top gear to recapture those that have absconded the camp to continue their begging business in some major streets of Ibadan.
