Kunle Adelabu
Residents of Ikorodu have called on the Lagos State Government, especially the agency responsible for the care of mentally challenged people and miscreants, to live up to its responsibilities by removing them along the Ikorodu – Lagos Road.
They lamented their large number and the menace that they are constituting to the society.
Mr Adekunle Razaq Aderibigbe (ARA), former candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, in the last general glections, raising the issue on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform, said that the mentally challenged people occupying the median from Majidun to Ikorodu garage roundabout, are in need of attention.
Aderibigbe said that two of the mentally challenged people he encountered squatting on the road, were aggressive and called on the government to address the concern.
“This is to call the attention of concerned Lagos State Government Agency to the looming menace of persons requiring care on Lagos road”, he said.
“I took a brisk walk between Majidun and Ikorodu Garage, and I counted 5 persons on the pathway of BRT corridor who are obviously mentally unstable.
“Two of the persons were aggressive, constituting nuisance and threat to passersby. This concern requires urgent actions”, he added.
Mr Bayode Olawunmi Treasures, the Guinness Book of Record Holder in the Marathon Read Aloud Contest in both individual and group categories who also resides in Ikorodu, in his contribution, queried the large number of the mentally challenged persons.
The educationist, who was of the view that they are much more in number, categorized them.
“Only 5? Much more than that”, he said.
“Some are crazy, some are eccentric, some are lunatics, but I don’t know what to call those who urinate on the median”.
Comrade Semiu Akinlawon Fasasi, former Chairman, Non – Academic Staff Union (NASU), LASPOTECH Chapter, stated that those that Bayode said are urinating on the median, are miscreants.
Comrade Hassan Temidayo, a lecturer and Convener, Easygold Initiative for Mental Health Awareness, deplored the neglect of people with mental problem, stating that they are everywhere.
The mental health campaigner also alleged that the Ministry of Health is not doing enough to address the situation, though, he did not elaborate.
“Mental health stigmatization everywhere. Ministry of health is the No.1 culprit”, he said.
