The Anambra State Joint Task Force from the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade, has cleared more than 50 street beggars and out-of-school children hawking around the state.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said it aimed at sanitising the state, pave the way for the easy flow of traffic, and rescue out-of-school children to achieve the present administration’s clean, green and sustainable megacity agenda.
Speaking further after the raid, Obinabo, stated that there was an increase in the rate of children who hawk within Awka and beyond, with other evidence of child labour and exploitations that contradict the Child’s Rights Law which the State is a signatory to.
The commissioner reaffirmed that Anambra State Government frowned at child labour in any guise and reiterated that “any child seen at school hours during weekdays would be taken and sent to school.”
Meanwhile, some of the beggars who spoke to Voice of Nigeria said hardship and lack of assistance led them into begging as they could not fend for their children.
They promised to quit begging if they are financially equipped to go into small-scale business.
VON observed that they hail from different parts of the country.
They were taken to Dr Akunyili Women Development Center under the custody of the Commissioner for proper documentation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Child Abuse through street hawking has contributed immensely to the number of out-of-school children in the state.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
