The Oyo state government is committed to rehabilitating all the homeless, beggars and mentally ill evacuated from the streets of major cities in the state.
Kafilat Olayiwola, state commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, made the pledge in Ibadan on Friday during the evacuation exercise in Ibadan, the state capital.
Ms. Olayiwola said that the state government is determined to rid the streets of homeless, beggars and people with mental disabilities and keep them in a rehabilitation center.
“The exercise is to ensure that the lives of the evacuees and the general public are safe and secure.
“Their presence in society poses a danger, since some of them may be agents of criminals.
“So, we are going to profile them and involve some in skills acquisition programs with the aim of enhancing the individual’s ability to build a better life.
“Those with mental health problems will be transferred to the psychiatric section of Adeoyo State Hospital, Ibadan, for medical attention.”
The commissioner said the state government had taken a stance on the growing number of homeless and beggars swarming in major areas such as Mokola, Iwo Road, New Gbagi Market and Ojoo in the state capital.
He said the exercise would be continuous, noting that the well-being of all evacuees would be adequately cared for.
In addition, Ademola Aderinto, special adviser on the environment to Governor Seyi Makinde, said that the homeless, beggars and people with mental illness constitute environmental hazards on the streets and in strategic places in the state.
Aderinto said that the state government, through the Ministry of the Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, were stepping up efforts to address the threat.
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He reiterated that all evacuees would be properly cared for and treated at the rehab center, and then they would be involved in what would add value to their lives.
Meanwhile, a cross-section of Ibadan residents praised the state government for evacuating the homeless and beggars.
Commenting, Arinola Adedeji, a merchant from Iwo Road, urged the state government to make the evacuation exercise a routine to discourage begging.
Ms. Adedeji also called on the government not to allow evacuees to escape from the rehabilitation center.
Another merchant from the Mokola roundabout, Jude Oraka, urged the state government to make the rehab center conducive to evacuees so they don’t leave.
(YAYA)