By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has announced the rescue and rehabilitation of 1,148 vulnerable individuals from the streets of Lagos.
The rescued persons included the mentally ill, beggars, destitute, and street children – a significant stride in the government’s ongoing social intervention and urban safety agenda.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on Tuesday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, disclosed that 534 mentally challenged persons, 461 beggars, 133 destitute, and 20 street children were rescued during a coordinated operation led by the Ministry’s Rescue Unit.
He said the individuals were taken off the streets and relocated to government-owned rehabilitation centres where they are undergoing assessments, medical attention, counselling, and vocational training.
Ogunlende reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to make Lagos a safer and more compassionate city, declaring that no citizen—regardless of their vulnerability—would be left behind.
“Our goal is to ensure no one is abandoned or forgotten. Lagos must be safe, orderly, and compassionate,” he said.
He also urged Lagosians to report sightings of street-dwelling individuals, particularly children and the mentally challenged, to relevant authorities for timely intervention.
He warned against the use of minors for begging or exploitative activities, noting that such actions are punishable under the Child Rights Law of Lagos State.
In response to rising concerns about social unrest and insecurity attributed to street miscreants, the commissioner revealed it had identified 57 hotspots notorious for the presence of street urchins and criminal elements.
To provide a sustainable solution, Ogunlende disclosed that plans are underway to revive the Tekunle Rehabilitation and Skill Acquisition Centre located on Ita-Oko Island in Ibeju-Lekki.
According to him, the Centre, which will initially cater to 150 individuals, is designed to equip beneficiaries with vocational skills in agriculture, construction, fashion, and arts and crafts, while also providing psychosocial support and pathways for reintegration into society.
The Commissioner highlighted the success stories emerging from the State’s Special Correctional Centres, which continue to serve as safe havens and transformative spaces for vulnerable children.
“At the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun, 209 boys received vocational, educational, and psychosocial interventions over the past year, with 112 of them successfully reunited with their families.
“Notably, one boy was repatriated to Luanda, Angola, and reunited with his family, with support from the Angolan Embassy and the Lagos State Government.
“A secondary school has also been established at the facility to offer formal education, with efforts underway to accredit the Centre as a Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) venue,” he said.
“At the Special Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba, similar achievements were recorded. Eight girls were reunited with their families; four have gained admission into tertiary institutions including Lagos State University and Yaba College of Technology.
“One of the rehabilitated girls is now a proud owner of her own restaurant. A total of 38 girls received vocational training to support economic self-reliance, while infrastructural upgrades—such as the construction of a solar water tank and renovated sanitary facilities—were also carried out to improve living conditions at the Centre,” he added.
In the area of childcare regulation, Ogunlende said the Ministry intensified monitoring of crèches, orphanages, day-care centres, and homes for the elderly.
“Out of over 500 facilities assessed, 45 received provisional approvals while 8 were granted final certifications for full compliance. Additionally, 140 centres were sensitised on registration processes and best practices in care delivery.
“However, four homes—Tower of Refuge Motherless Baby Home, Mary Perpetual Orphanage Home, Life Charger Orphanage Home, and God’s Time Orphanage Home—were shut down for illegal operations and non-compliance with regulatory standards,” he said.
Ogunlende reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all Lagos residents, particularly the most vulnerable.
He described the achievements as a reflection of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s people-centred approach to governance, noting that the State would continue to deepen its investment in youth empowerment, social justice, and inclusive development.
