By 
By Abiodun OBA
Over seven hundred mentally challenged (lunatics), destitute and beggars have been taken off streets of Lagos State in the last one year.
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende disclosed this at a ministerial news conference in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.
A breakdown of the figures showed that 301 mentally challenged people were evacuated, with 295 destitute and 157 beggars by the Rescue Unit of the ministry.
Ogundele said a total of 53 beggars were apprehended during the joint operation of the Ministry with the Lagos State Task Force, saying that 10 of the 53 beggars apprehended were taken to the Rehabilitation Training Centre (RTC), Majidun.
On adoption and fostering, the commissioner disclosed that 1,115 applications were received, 995 were for Local Adoption, 54 for International Adoption, 28 for relative and 38 for revalidation of approvals.
“Two Adoption Panels were conducted during the period under review, and three hundred and thirty-two (332) applications were approved.
“A total of thirty-seven (37) children were successfully released for bonding to prospective adoptive families. Thirty-six (36) of these were for Local Adoption while one (1) was for International Adoption.
“A total of fifty-eight (58) Adoptions were legalized at various Family Courts across the State. Fifty-four (54) of these were for Local Adoption while four (4) were for International Adoption,” he said.
Ogundele also disclosed that 67,804 school children benefited from the advocacy/sensitization in public schools by the ministry’s school social work service unit.
He revealed that 79 sexual abuse cases were reported in Lagos public schools in the last one year, adding that 120 physical/emotional abuse cases were also reported.
The commissioner said “21 Students were caught in the act of cultism which received immediate intervention and resolution. 199 students were counselled on poor academic performance issues, 173 drug related cases were recorded in schools. This was adequately investigated and controlled and one case of neglect reported.”
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