Ikeja – The Lagos State Government said on Thursday that it approved 152 applications for the adoption of children of Lagos origin in 11 European countries between 2007 and this year.

The Netherlands has 41 children, Italy 20, Spain 15, Switzerland 12 and Denmark 25.

The Special Adviser on Youth and Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru, disclosed this at a media briefing in Ikeja.

He said Belgium had adopted eight, while U.S. had adopted 16, UK eight, Germany two, and Canada five.

Badru said the state had also approved 1,027 babies for adoption locally out of the 4,657 applications so far received, adding that 48 others were given out as foster children locally.

On efforts to rid the state of destitute and the mentally challenged, he said 3,105 of them were rescued and taken to the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Owutu, Ikorodu.

“More than 38 able-bodied persons out of the destitute arrested, who were suspected to be criminals, were handed over for prosecution,’’ he added.

According to Badru, 3, 044 persons were either transferred to other states or countries or released to their relatives for re-integration.

“We transferred 12 persons to Niger Republic, Chad and Cote d’Ivoire had one person each.

“We returned 196 to Sokoto State, 75 to Kano, seven to Ondo State, 21 to Ekiti, 83 to Oyo State and 67 to Osun,’’ he said.(NAN)