By Abdulwahab Abdulah

As part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision to give hope to the hopeless, the Lagos state ministry of youth and social development has paid a welfare visit to Okobaba Resettlement Center, Ebute-Metta Lagos State.

The Commissioner for youth and social development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf in company of other directors of the ministry, weekend charged the settlers to be law abiding and desist from the act of street begging.

The commissioner in her address said government is ready to assist in whatever areas they need support. “We don’t want people living with disability to go on the street and be begging. Write to the government when you are in need and we will respond.

We have said this times without number that it is illegal to be begging on the streets of Lagos. If anyone wants to give, they should come here to do any form of giving; this place was put in place so that Government, NGOs and individuals will come here to assist you”.

Issuing a warning to perpetrators of street begging, she said: “we will continue to raid street beggars until there are no more beggars contravening the laws of Lagos State.”

She urged the leaders to ensure meaningful engagement of all at the center, “the children should go to school, and whosoever doesn’t want to go to school should go and learn a trade, be skilled in an area and should be ready to work”.

She donated some food items and cash to the residents leaders.

In his response, Secretary, Okobaba Resettlement Center, Muhammad Baba said they had received a directive from the ministry before now to enlighten their people and educate them to understand and appreciate the need to be in school or learn a trade or skill, a directive which he said they have been adhering to.

He said, efforts has been made to ensure children are enrolled in primary and secondary school, but due to financial problems some of them have dropped out. He therefore, pleaded with the Government to assist them in addressing their educational challenges.