FIC Report (Edo State) – The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has affirmed his government’s zero tolerance for street begging in the state. The Governor also threatened that the government will begin the arrest and prosecution of parents of out-of-school children, as part of efforts to tackle the menace of street begging in the state.
The above announcement was made by Governor Obaseki when he received Muslim faithfuls who were at the Government House, Benin City to celebrate the Eid-El Fitr after the successful completion of the Ramadan exercise.
The governor said, “We believe that basic education is the right for every Edo child; it’s their right and it’s free and compulsory. We will link education with street begging and street children.
“In the next few weeks or months, we will not allow street begging in Edo anymore. We have farm settlements and we need hands and labour to cultivate foods. People arrested from where they are begging will be evacuated to the farm settlements to work and if they don’t want to work, they will be sent back to where they come from.”
The Governor who stated that his government has recently employed 3,062 teachers, stressed that the hard-to-reach areas in the riverine communities will now have teachers to teach their children.
Mr. Obaseki also said his administration is working hard to create more jobs and opportunities for the people of the State and ensure life is better for them.
“We are also creating a peaceful environment, infrastructure and security to make the State safe.” He added.
He reassured that his administration will continue to use resources of the state for its growth and development and not for few politicians.
Earlier, the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabulele commended the Governor for his developmental strides across all sectors of the state and his efforts at ending street begging in the state.
BY BESIRU ENAKHIMION
FIC, BENIN.
