Environment
Traumatised Ibadan Residents Raise Alarm As Street beggers Take Over Streets
Inhabitants of the capital city of Oyo state, Ibadan have raised the alarm over the rate at which beggars are taking over major roads in the city, disrupting free flow of traffic and traumatising road users. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday accused the state government of not doing enough to rid the city of the beggars.
NAN reports that aside the usual sight of the physically-challenged beggars, diseased and able-bodied persons are now joining the beggars’ trade.
Dr Mofoluwaso Olajide, a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Oral Pathology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, said that the society should not encourage diseased individuals-turned-beggars.
According to Olajide, this category of beggars, whom she described as exploiters, have seen their ailments as meal tickets and will, therefore, refuse help to have them cured or treated.
She recounted her experience with a couple of people in this category and how they had declined help to be cured when such an offer was handed out to them.
Olajide described the trauma being created by such people in the minds of the residents of the metropolis, especially children, as they parade themselves on major roads.
“This is in most of our cities like Lagos and Ibadan. It is quite common and this is a wake-up call to the state government, through the Social Welfare Department, to pick up people like that and put them in institutions that could determine who actually needed medical help.
“The economic situation in the country is not helping matters, as lots of people are living below the poverty line and they are using everything, including disabilities, to keep their body and soul together,” she said.
According to the dentist, a false impression to want to get out of the condition is created, but what people need is money to feed, which is the basic need of life.
“The way to go about it is not to use this condition to harass people on the road,” she said.
She emphasised the need to save the children from being psychologically affected when suddenly exposed to this set of beggars.
In his view, a teacher, Mr Akintomiwa Fadeyi, described street begging, particularly in the 21st century, as an eyesore which had made Ibadan city more ancient.
Fadeyi described the menace as irritating and one capable of discouraging foreign investors from coming to the state.
“From my observation, the Oyo State government lacks the political will to bring an end to the menace.
“Street begging has been made a booming industry by some powerful elements and the present governor appears to have no solution to it.
“I know that this same government built a place for the beggars at Moniya. However, the same government has failed to monitor or enforce its order on them.
“There is a strong reason for one to conclude that there are some people somewhere who have contracted some vulnerable people to engage in the shameful trade and share the proceeds with them.
“Imagine, many of these beggars even go as far as obstructing traffic to beg from drivers and passengers,” Fadeyi said.
He identified Odo-Ona, New Garrage, Orita-Challenge, Molete, Oja-Oba, Beere and Iwo-Road as some of the areas in Ibadan with large population of beggars.
Fadeyi stated that some ‘high-class’ beggars go as far as rejecting lower naira denominations, such as N20 and N10 notes.
Similarly, Mr Kayode Akinola, a resident of Iwo-Road community, said it was frustrating that the biggest city in Nigeria had been neglected to the extent of it becoming a haven for beggars.
Akinola, a computer engineer, said that as consequences, street begging could perpetuate a cycle of dependency, leading to long-term social issues.
“It may also contribute to the stigmatisation and marginalisation of individuals who have resorted to begging.
“Economically, street begging often indicates lack of economic opportunities, poverty and inequality.
“It can also affect the overall economic productivity of the city, as resources are redirected toward addressing the immediate needs of beggars rather than long-term solutions,” he said.
The computer scientist frowned at the cultural stumbling block being constituted by the street beggars.
“Culturally, street begging can challenge the cultural norms because it is against our practice in this part of the world to make a living out of begging,” he said.
Another resident, Mr Rotimi Famakin, says it is appalling that beggars are taking over the streets of Mokola, Sango, Agbowo, UI and Ojoo, all in Ibadan.
He expressed the regret over the situation whereby teenagers were being systematically lured into taking drugs and engaging in premature sex through street begging.
According to him, most of the beggars may not be conscious of whatever evil intentions those offering them money or food may have concerning them.
“Most of the time, the ingredients that form part of the offering to the beggars, such as money, honey and other strange objects, are suspicious and indicative that they may mean something else other than charity.
“The menace of street begging under the Mokola roundabout bridge is even so worrisome that both the old and young engage in physical combats whenever the giver splashes such money and food on them.
“In fact, I usually see able-bodied men and women chancing or cheating the physically-challenged beggars by snatching their shares of offering from them.
“Worst still, I see parents who take their little children on the begging business, while they take the back seat somewhere, watching as their children approach different people for money,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government has assured the people of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate all the street beggars in Ibadan and other cities in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr Sulaiman Olanrewaju, gave the assurance while speaking with NAN.
According to Olanrewaju, government will not send non-indigene beggars back to their respective states, as the law permits every Nigerian to reside in any part of the country.
“These people are Nigerians and they have the right to reside here (Ibadan). However, the only problem is that they are now constituting nuisance to the society through their activities.
“Government will ensure that they don’t cause problems for us here.
“So what we are doing now is to ensure that we make it impossible for street beggars, who will be moved to the rehabilitation centre at Akinyele, to escape back to the streets to beg for alms.
“Government is even planning that as many of them who are of school age are returned to school,” he said.
The chief press secretary assured that the rehabilitation centre would be made conducive for the beggars, with facilities such as water, electricity, sleeping rooms, perimeter fencing of the centre and other things.
“We will ensure that the centre is well-monitored to guard against people escaping from there.
“So, once they are taken back to the centre, there won’t be any reason for them to return to the streets,” he said.
He reiterated the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration’s plan to upgrade the lifestyle of the state during his second term.
“The Makinde-led administration is determined to ensure that the state has an environment that is attractive for investors and conducive for healthy living.
“The state cannot have that kind of environment if we have street beggars and people dumping refuse on the roads,” he said.
Source: NAN
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Environment
Flood Submerges 5 Communities in Ibaji, Kogi State
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mouktar Atima, has said the floods have completely submerged Ibaji Local Government Area in the eastern senatorial district of the state, warning communities along the river bank to immediately relocate to safer grounds.
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The SEMA boss, who led the Emergency Response and Critical team on an advocacy visit to the Commissioner of Health, Dr Adams Abdullazeez, said the state was no longer safe owing to the rising levels of the waters in the Rivers Niger and Benue.
He said, according to charts of experts and managers of various dams in the country, excessive water will begin to pour into the Rivers Niger and Benue from Tuesday night, which will cause an overflow of the river bank.
He said 258 communities in eight local government areas of the state have been marked as flood-prone areas while 42 internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps have been constructed to take care of those to be displaced while an emergency operations centre has been opened.
According to him, five communities in Ibaji Local Government Area were worst hit including Ota, Ofogbo, Itidma and Owara community in Kotonkarfi Local Government Area of the state.
He said the state Ministry of Health was key to disaster management in the state even as he intimated the health commissioner of the rising levels of the Rivers Niger and Benue, stressing that in the next 72 hours, the state will be entering a difficult period.
The SEMA boss commended the health commissioner for his proactive measures and support given to the agency, saying the support was responsible for zero casualty in last year.
Responding, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Adams Adeiza Abdullazeez, said the ministry was not only for healthcare services but also for human services, saying the ministry was adequately prepared to tackle or mitigate any disaster in the state.
Dr Abdullazeez said the ministry has already begun the fumigation of all the 42 IDP camps in preparation for the floods, saying the ministry has fully mobilised all its personnel and materials to attend to any flood victims.
He said his ministry was aware that there may be outbreak of diseases or epidemic in the various IDP camps and stressed that they were fully prepared.
The health commissioner commended Governor Usman Ododo for his commitment to health issues in the state and stressed that due to the governor’s prompt intervention in last year’s flooding there was no single life lost.
“We commend our governor for his prompt response and usual assistance to the ministry; it was indeed his quick intervention that averted loss of lives in last year’s flood, while many states recorded loss of lives, Kogi recorded additional lives as two women in the IDP gave birth to twins,” he added.
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Environment
Kabba-Bunu Residents Hails Kogi Govt Over Erosion Control Project
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Residents of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have commended the state government for its proactive intervention in tackling erosion and flood challenges through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
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The residents gave the commendation during a media inspection tour of erosion control sites in the area, led by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, and the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muhammed Yusuf.
Speaking on behalf of the people, a community leader, Ojo Sunday Martins, noted that the local government had suffered devastating environmental problems in the past, with flooding destroying properties worth millions of naira.
“Before now, whenever it rained heavily, panic would spread across the communities because of the fear of flooding. But today, we can sleep with our two eyes closed. We must commend the Kogi State Government for coming to our aid. The Governor is doing well and we are proud of him,” Martins said.
Another resident, Mrs. Funke Aiyedogbon, described the intervention as timely and life-saving. “Many families used to lose their farmlands and houses to erosion, and some even relocated because of the menace. Today, with the ACReSAL project, we have renewed hope. We thank the government for remembering us,” she said.
On his part, youth leader, Dare Ibrahim, urged the government to sustain the initiative across other vulnerable communities. “What we are seeing in Kabba-Bunu should be replicated in other local governments. This project is not just about erosion control; it is about saving lives and preserving livelihoods,” he added.
Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, assured residents that the state government remains committed to executing people-centered projects across the state. “Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is determined to ensure that no community is left behind in the area of infrastructural development.
Also Fanwo reaffirmed government determination to revolutionize the state’s education sector in line with global standards.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, gave the assurance during a media tour of Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba, where journalists inspected ongoing developmental projects.
He noted that the administration of Governor Usman Ododo has continued to prioritize education while also ensuring security and providing a conducive environment for learning across the state’s institutions.
He dismissed misconceptions that the university is unsafe and unfit for academic activities, stressing that the institution has remained peaceful and habitable.
“The three state-owned universities remain a true reflection of unity in Nigeria,” Fanwo said. “Governor Ododo is transforming the education sector beyond what many thought possible. That is why we brought you here—to silence the naysayers. We are not just talking from Lokoja; we are showing you the physical evidence of what is being done.”
The Commissioner added that education is central to the administration’s vision for development.
“Education is the bedrock of national progress, and Governor Ododo is committed to making Kogi State a central hub for learning. Beyond good roads and security, we are revolutionizing the physical and academic structures of our institutions,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of KSU Kabba, Professor Kehinde Eniola, recalled the university’s journey since its establishment, describing it as one of the fastest-growing institutions in the country.
He praised both past and present administrations for their contributions to the university’s growth.
“Former Governor Yahaya Bello wrote his name in gold by laying a solid foundation for this university,” Prof. Eniola said. “Governor Ododo has built on that legacy with commendable passion and commitment. The progress we see today speaks for itself.”
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Environment
Ododo Tackles Ecological Challenges in Kogi
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state has reiterated his commitment to tackle erosion and flooding through the deployment of infrastructure designed to provide lasting solutions to ecological challenges across the State.
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Ododo who spoke through his commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo at the weekend, said that his administration is determined to change the face of Kogi with solution-tailored infrastructure that guarantees safety, sustainability, and improved quality of life for the people.
According to him, newly constructed drainage systems in parts of the State, including Etahi, OMIGBO and Olubojo in Ankpa, have already begun delivering results. “Our drains are working as designed. Rainwater is being efficiently collected and channeled away, reducing the risk of flooding. Within minutes of heavy rainfall, the water is soaked away, leaving communities safe and accessible,” he explained.
The Governor disclosed that the government is leveraging the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project to strengthen flood control measures and reclaim land previously destroyed by ecological challenges.
“Kogi ACReSAL under Barr. Ladi Jatto has become a game-changing platform for the administration as we are making the best of the opportunities offered to drive sustainable solutions to ecological challenges”, he said.
Ododo stressed that the administration’s environmental initiatives reflect vision of building resilient communities through sustainable projects that directly address the peculiar needs of the State.
“Kogi is no longer just reacting to ecological disasters; we are proactively deploying infrastructure that prevents them. This is a new dawn in our approach to flood control and environmental sustainability,” he added.p
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