From: Moshood Adebayo
No fewer than 290 abandoned children have been rescued by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development in the past one year.
Commissioner in the ministry, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, made the closure, on Thursday, in Alausa, Ikeja.
The figure, which comprises 106 males and 131 females for 2016 according to the commissioner is higher than the corresponding figure of 149 children that were rescued in the previous year.
She also disclosed that 53 children have been rescued so far this year in different parts of the state
The commissioner also said that 150 reported cases of sexual and physical abuse were handled by the ministry in the year under review.
She added that five pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services.
On the influx of beggars of northern extraction in the state, she revealed that the state have been partnering with the northern state governments to reduce the influx
The commissioner also disclosed that the state is coming up with a law to prohibit begging in the state.
Akinbile-Yussuf also said that ministry organized a deworming exercise for over 60,000 pupils from various primary schools, in order to prevent the children to contacting worm infections.