Oyo State Government has appealed to philanthropic residents to patronize beggars, destitute urchins at the Akinyele resettlement.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Omolabake Kafilat Olayiwola, stated this during an assessment visit to the facility. She said that the state government is willing to accede to some other urgent requests made by the destitute.
The Commissioner announced the renewed plans to bring back some of the mendicants who have left the provided Akinyele Resettlement Centre back into the facility.
She explained that adequate care has been given to the evacuees at the new facility, which, according to her, is more habitable and conducive.
According to her, “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 go 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 stuff 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,” Alhaja Olayiwola stated.
