Lagos rescues 31 abandoned babies, evacuates 1,340 beggars

No fewer than 31 abandoned babies were rescued from the streets by the Lagos State government in the last one year. Similarly, the government has evacuated a total of 1,340 beggars, destitute and mentally-challenged persons off the streets, while about 73,664 patients were screened and helped to trace their homes through various media platforms.

The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, who disclosed this yesterday at the 2016 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s one year in office, said the government, in the period under review, released and re-united 590 rehabilitees with their relations for re-integration, while 1,228 persons were rehabilitated at the Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Majidun.

According to the commissioner, many of the rehabilitees were subsequently placed on vocational training to make them contribute positively to the society, while 43 drug-dependent rehabilitees, who probably had lost hope, were restored back to their functional ability and another 20 placed under vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre in Isheri.

While reeling out many other social interventions, which the ministry embarked upon in the last 12 months, she said the development was part of the vision of Governor Ambode to create an environment that is safe, conducive and prosperous not only for investors, but the citizenry in general.

The  Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande, said the ministry also received 382 cases of domestic violence, out of which 234 cases were successfully treated, which among others include physical and emotional pains, harm, injury, humiliation and degradation, permanent and partial disability, separation, divorce and needless loss of precious lives.

Akande tasked members of the society to come up with useful information on sexual violence not only against women, but men and other social vices.

including any suspected illegal baby factory.