Category: Nigerian Tribune

Starting is one thing; building momentum is another. It’s easy to track your spending for a week and then fall back into old habits. The goal isn’t just to have a good financial week; it’s to build a great financial life. It’s time to move from simply doing the tasks to creating a system that works for you, even on the days you don’t feel motivated.

Let’s build on the foundation you’ve already laid. Here are the next three steps to turn your new habits into a powerful, wealth-building system.

Your 3-Step System to Build Lasting Wealth

Automate Your Success: Become the Architect, Not the Labourer

You’ve already proven you can manually save and track. Now, let’s put it on autopilot. Willpower is a limited resource, and the single best way to beat future procrastination is to take the daily decision-making out of the equation.

Automation is your financial superpower. It ensures your most important goals are met before you even have a chance to spend the money elsewhere.

Pay Yourself First, Automatically: Log into your banking app right now and set up a recurring standing order. It could be ?5,000, ?10,000, or whatever amount you decide. Have that amount automatically transferred from your main account to a separate savings account the day after you receive your salary. This isn’t a bill; this is a payment to your future self.

The Result: By setting up this system, you become the architect of your financial future, designing where your money goes. You no longer have to be the labourer who manually moves the money every single month.

Give Every Naira a Job: Create Your ‘Money Buckets’

Now that you’ve faced your financial reality (Step 2), it’s time to tell your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went. This isn’t about a restrictive, complicated budget. Think of it as creating ‘buckets’ or ‘pots’ for your money. A simple and effective method is the 50/30/20 rule.

50% for Your Needs: This is the core of your spending. It includes essentials like rent, transportation, groceries, and utility bills. These are the ‘must-haves.’

30% for Your Wants: This is the fun bucket! It’s for dining out, new clothes, entertainment, and anything that makes life more enjoyable. This is guilt-free spending because you’ve planned for it.

20% for Your Future Self: This is the most powerful bucket. This money goes directly towards your SMART goals (Step 1). It’s for savings, paying off debt aggressively, and eventually, investing. Your automated savings (Step 5) are part of this bucket.

These percentages are a guide, not a strict rule. If your rent takes up 60% of your income, adjust the other categories. The goal is intentionality. You are in control. You are giving every single Naira a purpose.

Shift Your Mindset: From Scarcity to Abundance

This is the final, and most profound, step. Your financial journey is 80% mindset and 20% mechanics. You can have the best systems in the world, but if your mind is working against you, you will always struggle.

A scarcity mindset says, ‘There’s never enough,’ ‘I’m bad with money,’ or ‘I’ll never get ahead.’ It focuses on limitations and fear.

An abundance mindset says, ‘I can create opportunities,’ ‘I am a capable manager of my money,’ and ‘My wealth can grow.’ It focuses on possibilities and growth.

Here’s how to start making the shift:

Change Your Language: Instead of saying, ‘I can’t afford that,’ try asking, ‘How can I afford that?’ The first phrase shuts down possibilities; the second opens up your mind to solutions-like starting a side hustle, asking for a raise, or cutting back elsewhere.

Invest in Yourself: Your greatest wealth-building tool is your ability to earn. Spend time and money on learning new skills that can increase your income. Read books, take online courses, or attend seminars.

The Future is Now

You’ve moved from being a procrastinator to being a doer. With these new steps, you’re becoming a builder-constructing a system that will support your dreams for years to come.

Two persons were confirmed dead while six others sustained injuries in a road traffic crash at Police Commissioner Junction in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday.

The crash involved a Howo truck, a Toyota Corolla and two tricycles.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure on the truck.

A total of eight people, all male adults, were involved. Two died on the spot, while six others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Borno State, Corps Commander Usman A. Muhammad, said emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene.

The injured were taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

Commander Muhammad extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He also urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and carry out regular vehicle maintenance to prevent such incidents.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has cautioned political critics and commentators against turning security matters into a political tool, warning that such behaviour could undermine efforts to restore peace across the state.

Aliyu gave the warning on Friday in Silame Local Government Area while concluding his first round of condolence visits to communities affected by recent bandit attacks.

‘Security issues are very sensitive and fragile, and therefore must be handled with utmost care,’ the governor said.

He condemned those using insecurity as a means of political point-scoring, describing the act as ‘dangerous and unpatriotic.’

Aliyu explained that his administration, in partnership with security agencies, had intensified operations in troubled areas and that the results were already becoming evident.

The governor also frowned at the activities of local informants aiding bandits, disclosing plans to forward a bill to the State House of Assembly prescribing severe penalties for anyone caught collaborating with criminals.

‘We will not fold our arms and watch a few individuals sabotage the collective peace of our people,’ he warned, urging residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence.

Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s continued logistical and operational support for security agencies, assuring that the government would sustain the effort until normalcy was fully restored.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Abubakar Bawa, the governor distributed ?66 million and 165 bags of rice to families of the 33 victims killed in the Silame attack – each bereaved family receiving ?2 million and five bags of rice.

Seven-year-old Morolake Adeleye of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Region 39, Ifo Ogun state stunned the congregation when she recited Psalm 119, the longest Bible chapter, by heart, on Saturday.

The young girl’s performance left the congregation in awe, with many describing the moment as a powerful testament to faith, dedication, and the impact of early spiritual training through the longest Bible chapter.

The event took place during the church’s Power Must Change Hands (PMCH) programme at MFM Prayercity, a vibrant Pentecostal church known for its emphasis on prayer, scripture, and spiritual warfare.

Adeleye, a soft-spoken but confident member of the children’s ministry, took to the pulpit under the watchful eyes of her parents, church leaders, and thousands of worshippers.

Dressed in a grey suit, she stood poised and began reciting the intricate acrostic poem, which is structured around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and celebrates the beauty and necessity of God’s Word, especially noted in the longest Bible chapter.

Psalm 119, often referred to as an ‘alphabet of praise,’ is renowned for its complexity and depth. Each of its 22 stanzas, corresponding to a Hebrew letter, contains eight verses that weave together themes of devotion, obedience, and reliance on God’s law.

The chapter’s 176 verses explore the psalmist’s struggles, triumphs, and meditations on divine truth, with iconic lines like, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:105, NIV).

Biblical scholars note that the chapter’s poetic structure and theological richness make it a challenging text even for seasoned memorisers.

The recitation, which lasted nearly 20 minutes, concluded with a standing ovation from many in the audience.

Adeleye’s achievement is particularly notable given the cultural and spiritual significance of Psalm 119, the longest Bible chapter.

In Christian and Jewish traditions, the chapter is revered for its focus on God’s character and the transformative power of scripture.

Historically, figures like William Wilberforce, the 19th-century British abolitionist, memorizedmemorised and recited Psalm 119 as a meditative practice.

In Nigeria, where oral tradition and scriptural memorisation are cherished, such displays are celebrated as signs of spiritual maturity, even among the young.

This is not the first time a young Nigerian has garnered attention for reciting Psalm 119. In 2018, a boy named Samuel Adeniyi went viral for a similar performance at the April 2018 Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

AKIN, a 4-year-old boy, was struggling in school to read numbers and alphabets. The parents assume that he must be dull. His sibling, in the same school, reads very well. Despite home coaching, Akin’s grade was falling behind, and his self-esteem was suffering.

Over the news, the parents heard that poor academic performance is one possible indicator of poor vision in a child. They brought the child in for an eye check, and a pair of glasses was prescribed. That child became the best in mathematics.

Unfortunately, avoidance behaviours, low self-esteem, and discontent can arise from vision problems if they are not treated. For example, the child may talk throughout class because she is asking a classmate what the teacher is writing on the board. She might be reluctant to speak up or read aloud.

A child with visual impairments might act irritably, which could lead to disturbances at school. Since they have never had good eyesight, these children are unable to communicate that they have vision issues.

It is sometimes assumed that a child who has impaired vision is impulsive or distracted since he finds it difficult to focus on any subject for an extended period of time.

The clumsiness, lack of interest in academics, or squinting are not examined to determine whether the cause is a vision problem.

Inability to comprehend visual information can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and avoidance behaviours. Important processes, including identity formation, emotional regulation, and self-confidence, might be hampered by untreated visual problems.

In a talk titled ‘Vision Begins Early: Building Statewide Systems for Paediatric Eye Care’ at the farewell event honouring Professor AderonkeBaiyeroju’s 70th birthday and retirement, Professor Ademola-Popoola said that a child’s eye may be normal despite having extremely severe visual impairments.

Ademola-Popoola, head of the Ophthalmology department at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, explained that a child is unlikely to complain of a vision problem. Someone needs to find it because vision contributes about 83 per cent to learning in early life.

‘But if the child is not seeing, eating will become problematic. Expressive language and other learning skills, including walking, are delayed. Phonation is by watching an adult whom the child likes to speak to. So when vision has a problem, many things will be delayed,’ she added.

Many things may indicate that a child is having difficulties due to a vision problem. According to her, some indications of this include holding a book too near to one’s face, being distracted, isolating oneself, having poor handwriting, and engaging in abnormal behaviours like persistent frowning.

When they discover how hard school is and that their grades are worse than other classmates, some children become agitated or act out in anger. In fact, visual problems could even lead to an inaccurate ADD or ADHD diagnosis.

Recent research reveals a startling connection between vision impairment and mental health issues, particularly in children. A study reported that children with visual impairments are at a higher risk for mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, poor vision cuts across children of all socioeconomic classes. Also, from a child born premature to the older child, all can be affected by poor vision. And there are consequences when it happens.

In addition to what a child can see, vision abnormalities such as strabismus, or eye misalignment, can also impact how the child interacts with the outside world and how they see themselves. In addition to physical blindness, these illnesses often result in mental difficulties that hinder socialisation, academic performance, and self-worth.

Furthermore, almost 90 per cent of blind people do not go to school. Furthermore, we will be sustaining the cycle of poverty based only on one child’s visual impairment because someone needs to be there to mentor and care for them while they are not in school.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that child blindness contributes to one-third of the total impact of blindness in the world, and so they make it important.

Ademola-Popoola added, ‘Eight out of 10 individuals who have been blind since childhood never had an eye examination to prevent needless blindness. Moreover, approximately 80 per cent of the causes of their blindness are completely avoidable.’

She listed the causes of preventable blindness in children, including cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, and retinopathy of prematurity.

‘Children who are born prematurely are eligible for screening. Between four and eight out of every hundred will become blind if nothing is done to treat the condition within the first two months of life. When we examined paediatric cataracts, we found that about 38 per cent of the cataracts we operate on in children result from trauma,’ she said.

Prof. Ademola-Popoola stated that vision screening to catch vision problems and eye diseases should leave no child behind, from premature babies, immunization and well-baby clinics, and regular schools to schools for children with special needs.

She added, ‘Everyone should be aware of this problem and trained to perform simple actions that can help get a child to the hospital quickly. Our studies show that in over 85 per cent of cases, the family already knew there was a problem.

‘Childhood blindness steals both sight and future. Prevention saves them both. It costs less to preserve a child’s sight than to rebuild a lost future.’

No doubt, there are many cases where children have been referred to all kinds of doctors, from neurologists to psychiatrists, when all they needed was vision care. Sometimes, these are subtle signs for glasses or other vision care!

I have become dependent on painkillers for the past three years due to my long-standing back ache. I want to know what to do about this.

– Gregory (by SMS)

Painkillers such as paracetamol, among others, are safe and very effective when used in moderate doses for specific periods of time. However, when used in higher doses over a long period, they can lead to gastritis, liver damage and even kidney failure.

Luckily, in addition to moderate amounts of painkillers, your chronic back ache can also be treated in other ways such as exercises, weight loss, and the use of comfortable beds and mattresses, among others. This way, the amount of painkillers that will be required for your back ache will be significantly reduced.

Garba Shehu, former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has dismissed claims by former President Goodluck Jonathan that Buhari was once nominated by Boko Haram to mediate peace talks with the Federal Government.

In a statement titled ‘Boko Haram Did Not Nominate Buhari As Their Mediator’ issued on Friday, Shehu described Jonathan’s comment as ‘a false start’ ahead of a possible 2027 presidential bid.

Jonathan had made the remarks at the public presentation of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.), where he said Boko Haram insurgents once named Buhari as their preferred negotiator.

According to Jonathan, ‘One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

‘So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them, and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.’

Reacting to the comment, Shehu accused Jonathan of attempting to distort facts for political gain, urging him to ‘look for another story to tell Nigerians.’

Shehu said, ‘Muhammed Yusuf or Abubakar Shekau, the deceased leaders of the Boko Haram terrorist group, never nominated Muhammadu Buhari for any such role. In fact, Shekau routinely denounced and threatened Buhari, and their ideologies were in direct opposition.’

He recalled that in 2014, Buhari narrowly escaped a bomb attack allegedly orchestrated by Boko Haram in Kaduna, which left some of his personal staff injured.

‘In 2014, Muhammadu Buhari escaped a bomb attack on his life by Boko Haram in Kaduna, in which his personal staff suffered various degrees of injury.

‘Buhari’s campaigns focused on fighting Boko Haram and restoring security to Nigeria whenever he became president, putting him in direct opposition to the terrorist group’s leader.’

Shehu further explained that reports of Buhari’s alleged nomination were based on misinformation spread by a faction of the terrorist group, possibly sponsored by political opponents, who held a press conference in Maiduguri claiming Buhari and other northern leaders had been chosen to mediate with the Federal Government.

‘What led to the misleading information was that a faction of the terrorist group, possibly sponsored by Buhari’s opponents, staged a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State, through a certain Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, who claimed to be the Boko Haram commander in charge of Southern and Northern Borno, saying that the sect would prefer the former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, ex-Yobe State governor and the then Senator, now late Bukar Abba Ibrahim, first Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Shettima Ali Monguno, also late, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Insecurity in the North-East, Ambassador Gaji Gatimari, and other prominent members of the Borno Emirate to mediate between them and the federal government.

‘Abdulaziz was roundly condemned by the leaders of Boko Haram, who claimed that he had ‘no mandate of their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau.’

He also cited the response of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which immediately denied the claim, quoting the party’s National Secretary, Engr. Buba Galadima, who said Buhari ‘has not even heard about it’ and described the report as mere speculation.

Shehu urged Jonathan to seek a more credible campaign narrative ahead of 2027, stating, ‘To win in 2027, Dr. Jonathan should look for a better story to tell Nigerians.’

The Emir of Hadejia and Chairman of the Jigawa Council of Chiefs, Dr Adamu Abubakar Maje, has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of primary schools within his domain, describing the situation as ‘worrisome and unacceptable.’

The royal father stated this after paying an unscheduled visit to several primary schools in Ayama District of Auyo Local Government Area, where he observed dilapidated classrooms, absence of desks for pupils, and shortage of teaching materials.

Maje lamented that many pupils were forced to sit on bare floors while learning in leaking or cracked classrooms. He urged Governor Umar Namadi to embark on similar surprise visits across the state ‘to see things for himself and boost the morale of hardworking teachers.’

He disclosed that the emirate council would compile a detailed report on the state of education in the area and forward the same to the government for urgent intervention.

The Emir of Hadejia also appealed to parents and guardians to play active roles in school monitoring and support, rather than abandoning everything to the government.

Responding to the concerns, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Haruna Musa, admitted that the challenges were ‘a product of decades of accumulated neglect’ which could not be fixed overnight.

According to him, the present administration under Governor Namadi has intensified efforts through massive construction and renovation of classrooms under both the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) intervention and state-funded projects.

‘Recently, over 300 projects were advertised for tender under the 2023 UBEC intervention. Tender opening was conducted last week, and contract awards are now in progress,’ he said, adding that preparations for the 2024 phase are already underway.

However, Musa decried what he described as the ‘unpatriotic attitude’ of some communities that vandalise school infrastructure.

‘In many places, people remove iron windows, doors, roofing sheets-even chairs. Worse still, when minor damages occur, instead of fixing them, communities wait for government intervention. By the time we become aware, the damage has escalated,’ he lamented.

The SUBEB chairman appealed for community ownership and protection of school facilities to complement the government’s investment in basic education.

In an effort to curb the activities of bandits in Kogi west senatorial district in Kogi state, Chairmen of two local government areas in have ban sale of petrol in jerrycans, citing its potential use by criminal elements.

The Chairmen are Mopamuro local government area, Mr. Ademola Bello, and Ijumu Local Government Areas, Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna respectively.

Mopamuro LGA Chairman, Mr. Ademola Bello, said the restriction was part of a broader security strategy aimed at disrupting the supply lines of kidnappers and bandits operating within and around the local government.

‘This action is necessary to curb the growing threat of banditry and kidnappings in our communities and across Kogi State,’ Bello stated.

He explained that the ban is targeted at preventing the diversion of fuel to unauthorised locations, particularly criminal hideouts.

In addition, he announced restrictions on bulk sales of food and other provisions, urging shop owners to refrain from selling large quantities of essential goods that could potentially aid criminal groups.

‘To further enhance surveillance and reduce criminal activity at night, a curfew has been imposed in Mopamuro, restricting movement from 10 p.m. onwards,’ he added.

Bello directed all security agencies operating in the area to strictly enforce the new order, warning that violators would face legal consequences.

‘By following these rules, residents will play a key role in keeping Mopamuro safe and secure,’ he said. ‘Together, we can create a community where peace and safety are the norm, not the exception.’

Similarly, in Ijumu Local Government Area, Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna issued a matching directive, halting the sale of petrol in jerrycans throughout the area.

Haruna cited actionable intelligence reports suggesting that large volumes of petrol were being funneled to criminals in the forests.

‘This measure is necessary to deny kidnappers and bandits the logistical support they rely on,’ Haruna said. ‘We ask for the full cooperation of our people in enforcing this for the safety of everyone.’

Both chairmen appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that the Kogi State Government is working tirelessly to address the rising security concerns.

They also encouraged citizens to continue supporting security efforts through cooperation, vigilance, and prayers.

Last Thursday, at Akinyele Resettlement Centre in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, 334 beggars, street urchins and destitute persons, both young and old, who had been picked from different parts of Ibadan stepped out, one after the other, from two Omi Titun buses.

They filed into the wide space within the serene camp built by the state government about four years ago to accommodate such persons.

As they sat in the available spaces, some of them, familiar with one another, engaged in conversations. Others wore solemn looks, deep in thought. Among them were children moving around in excitement, oblivious of what lay ahead.

The evacuation from the streets back to the camp was a cleanup exercise carried out by the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) in line with its mandate to ensure a cleaner environment.

Alongside OYRLEA was an enforcement team comprising the Ministry of Environment, the Oyo State Environmental Task Force, the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority (OYRTMA), the Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYWMA), the Oyo State police command, the Amotekun Corps and the Joint Security Task Force, codenamed Operation Burst.

Before the commencement of enforcement two days earlier, Saturday Tribune learnt that OYRLEA and the team had visited the camp on Monday to inspect and confirm that it was in good condition and habitable.

Arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday were those who engaged in indiscriminate roadside trading and occupation of setbacks, illegal vehicle parking, sale of vehicles on setbacks, among others.

Last Thursday, the team moved through Idi Ape, Iwo Road, Airport-Gbagi Road, Gate, NTA Road, Mokola, Sango and Ojoo to evacuate the destitute, after which they were taken to the resettlement centre.

Speaking on the cleanup exercise, the chairperson of OYRLEA, Justice Aderonke Adekemi Aderemi (rtd), said that the Authority was simply carrying out its mandate as stipulated by law, through an operation tagged ‘Clean Up Ibadan’.

She said: ‘After checking the Resettlement Centre on Monday to be sure it is befitting, we started the cleanup exercise on Tuesday from Airport Road to Isebo to Gbagi to the old and new Ife Roads.

The destitute disembarking from the bus which conveyed them to the Resettlement Centre

‘We also went to where traders were selling their wares on the road, medians and setbacks. They were arrested and, along with their wares, were taken before the Tribunal.

‘We also arrested those who illegally parked their vehicles on the roads. The same happened to tricycle and motorcycle riders. In addition, we arrested those selling vehicles on road setbacks and impounded the vehicles.

‘On the third day, which is today, Thursday, we went round Ibadan city to clear the destitute. We picked 334 of them and conveyed them to the destitute’s camp at Akinyele.’

At the centre, officials of the Ministry of Environment were seen distributing food packs containing jollof rice and fish, as well as sachets of water, to the evacuees as lunch.

Saturday Tribune went round the evacuees to find out the reasons they resorted to begging or homelessness, which made them sleep under bridges, in open stalls and in corners. Among the shocking stories was that of a female teenager, Aisha, who gave her age as 18. She had been sleeping in the open under the bridge for three months. She also revealed she had a lover among the street urchins and was already six weeks pregnant for him.

With her mouth constantly filled with saliva due to her pregnancy, Aisha, who claimed to hail from Ode-Omu in Osun State, disclosed that she ran away from home some months ago and started living under the Iwo Road bridge in Ibadan, where she met and started dating Ismail Olamilekan.

Aisha told Saturday Tribune that she didn’t know why she left her parents’ home, since they never mistreated her.

She said: ‘I deliberately left home about three months ago, but I don’t understand it myself. I must have been chased from home with juju. I was not reprimanded by my parents.’

The teenager also explained how she became a street boy’s lover: ‘I met Ismail Olamilekan, a.k.a. Omoga, at a spot where he usually did some labour, offloading hideskin from vehicles at a filling station at Iwo Road. I’ve told him that I’m pregnant. I expected my monthly flow on September 15, but it has not come till now.’

When asked how she managed her hygiene among the many males sleeping on the streets, Aisha said she usually bathed early in the morning before daylight. She admitted, however, that she last bathed a day before she was evacuated.

On how she survived, Aisha disclosed that she used to hawk sachet water. She admitted that her lover smoked marijuana but claimed she had told him she didn’t like it. ‘He is gradually stopping,’ she added.

Aisha, the second child of her parents, also admitted she had never contacted them since she left home, as she had no access to their phone numbers.

Her lover, Ismail a.k.a. Omoga, aged 25, said he earned a living by offloading hideskin (ponmo) from vehicles. He claimed he slept on the streets because the job was usually done late at night into the early hours of the morning. He revealed he rented accommodation but hardly used it due to the nature of his work.

‘Our work was strenuous today (last Thursday) and was disrupted by the rain that fell throughout the night. I and others decided to sleep under the bridge until we would go home at daybreak,’ Ismail said.

He, however, could not explain why he was still sleeping under the bridge by 10am. He admitted that Aisha stayed with him there and got pregnant.

Ismail confessed to smoking marijuana, saying it was to energise him for his strenuous job.

Also, a Hausa woman, Aisha Abdullahi, said she went begging simply to get money to eat.

‘If the government doesn’t want Hausa people to beg for alms in Oyo State, then we should be given money to start a business. Without that, we will continue to beg. We are hungry; the government should not allow us to die of hunger,’ she said.

Another destitute, Fadesayo Kayode, from Ilesa, Osun State, said he used to work with a wheelbarrow to carry loads. He disclosed that he had never lived with his father since childhood, as he only knew his mother.

‘My mother is dead, and I’m her only child,’ Kayode, who stammers, explained. His friends at the Centre described him as a ‘tough boy’ who once lived with his grandmother but later opted for the streets. Kayode confirmed this, adding that he was also a hemp smoker.

A 60-year-old woman, Maria Adedeji Matthew, from Ago-Are, explained why she became a beggar: ‘I beg for alms to survive. I used to pray for passengers at motor parks, and they would give me money. It has never been by force.’

Giving a glimpse into her past, she said: ‘I once lived in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, and also in Togo. I later moved to the Majidun area of Lagos State, but the place was raided by the government, and I ended up in Ibadan.’

When asked about her children, Madam Matthew replied: ‘I have just one child. His name is Opeyemi Matthew. He should be about 35 years old and is in Ibadan. He knows I’m in Ibadan but is not aware of where I stay.’

When asked about her health, the woman responded: ‘I am okay, nothing is wrong with me except my right leg (showing this writer), which was disfigured after a vehicle hit me here in Ibadan. I can still walk with it, but it’s already deformed.

‘The only other issue is that I may pee on myself if I don’t quickly get a place to urinate, but that is not frequent. Even here, I quickly stood up to ease myself because I saw a place to do so.’

Speaking about where she used to sleep before her evacuation, Mrs Matthew said: ‘I used to sleep beside a shop, from where I was picked. I don’t know the name of the place very well. I had been staying there for about three years.’

On how she survived, she explained: ‘I ate with the money I got from good Samaritans. I even bought the cloth I’m wearing with such money.’

When asked about her family members back in Ago-Are, she said: ‘There is no one to take care of me again. My parents are dead. My father’s name was Kokumo Sekoni. I was named Maimuna at birth, but about 51 years ago, I became a Christian and was baptised Maria. I got married at about 25 and had only one child. His name is Opeyemi Matthew. His father is a medical doctor in Ilorin, Kwara State, who also sold medical equipment. He is from Kogi State.’

Another destitute, Ayomide Gabriel, from Isoko in Delta State, narrated how he became homeless: ‘I used to come to Ibadan from Lagos to beg for alms. I came again on Saturday, September 27. I usually sat beside Northerners to solicit help. After collecting some money, I would leave Ibadan for my residence at Isawo in Ikorodu.’

Giving his reason for begging despite being able-bodied, Mr Gabriel, 63, said: ‘It was because I had nothing else to do. Before, I was selling goods, but everything collapsed.’

Niyi Abiodun, a 45-year-old right-arm amputee, also shared his story: ‘I’m from Ile-Ife in Osun State. I don’t sleep on the street. I usually come from Ife to Ibadan to beg for alms to feed my four children. I was forced into this situation after a member of the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC) shot me in the arm, which later turned gangrenous and had to be amputated. He signed an agreement to compensate me but never honoured it.

‘I couldn’t take care of myself and my children, so I decided to beg. I used to come to Ibadan every two days. I made between N10,000 and N15,000 by going from one motor park to another. I would return home the same day, rest the following day, and come back again.’

He said he had been begging since 2016. When asked why he had not saved to start a business, he said he was incapacitated with just one arm.

‘My wife left me when I was in the hospital. She told me she couldn’t cope with my condition and left, but I didn’t allow her to take the children. My mother helped me care for them until she died. My firstborn is 17, the twins are 14, and the youngest is nine.

‘I couldn’t remarry. Who will marry a poor amputee? My worry is how to care for my children. That is why I turned to begging.’

Recalling the incident that led to his disability, Niyi alleged that he was kidnapped by the OPC man, Muri, who shot him during a ritual attempt at Omi Adio in December 2014. He claimed Muri wanted to sell his body parts. Though Muri later confessed and agreed to pay compensation, Niyi said it never happened. He heard later that the man was arrested for another violent crime.

It will be recalled that the state government had first relocated the destitute, street urchins and beggars to the resettlement centre in 2021, with assurances of care for their wellbeing.

At the time, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, told journalists that kitchens, food, mattresses, mats, toilets and other household items had been provided at the centre to aid their living.

Saturday Tribune, however, learnt that despite repeated evacuations, many of the evacuees often left the facility, with only a few choosing to remain there.