RSG Moves Against Menace Of Destitute Persons On Roads

The Rivers State Government says it has taken steps towards addressing the prevalence of chronically-ill persons on major roads and streets in Port Harcourt City, the state capital.
The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, dropped the hint at the weekend during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Strategic Committee on the Eradication of Chronically-Ill Persons in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Banigo emphasized the need to discourage the chronically-ill persons from parading the roads and streets in Port Harcourt and its environs in view of the health risk they pose to themselves, and the public; pointing out that in most cases, such vulnerable persons are usually forced to beg for money at the detriment of their health by their exploiters.
“It is important for us to discourage the chronically-ill persons from parading and constituting nuisance on major roads and streets in Port Harcourt because of the health hazard posed to themselves, motorists and other road users as well as the environment,” Banigo stated.
The deputy governor commended the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, and other stakeholders, such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Rivers State, the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, as well as the various line-ministries for their commitment to the vision, and assured them of government’s support and encouragement.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Iminabo Fubara, had said that the project, a brain-child of Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent De Paul, in collaboration with NOA, Rivers State and the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, was aimed at alleviating the plight of chronically-ill persons on our roads and free them from perceived exploitation by their supposed care-givers.
Fubara stated that the goal of the committee was to build public-private partnership among stakeholders towards achieving set objectives, and commended the deputy governor for her commitment and invaluable contribution towards ensuring the success of the committee’s work so far.