By Balimwor Ekpe
The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the state government to urgently rehabilitate the Street children in the Calabar metropolis, Hon. Eyo Bassey Edet, the member representing Bakassi state constituency, brought attention to the alarming increase in the number of street children in Calabar. Expressing deep concern over the uncertainties and disruptions caused by these children in the streets, he moved a motion urging the state government to take immediate action to rehabilitate and relocate them.
Hon. Bassey Bassey, representing Akpabuyo, voiced his support for the motion, emphasizing the need to protect the rights of every child. He highlighted the existing child law in Cross River State and stressed that its implementation would not only address the current menace but also contribute to reducing criminality in the state. Bassey envisioned a restoration of the lost glory of the state through effective intervention.
Also speaking, Hon. Ekarika Effiong, member representing Calabar South 2 state constituency, pointed out that the issue of street children seemed particularly acute in Calabar South. He pleaded with the state government to intervene urgently and eliminate this problem that plagues the nooks and crannies of the area.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem addressed the matter by emphasizing that these street children belong to someone. He proposed the utilization of motherless baby homes for those without parents and assured the public that the State Government, under Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, prioritizes the well-being of its people. He expressed the assembly’s commitment to supporting rehabilitative measures to ensure these children are given a chance for a better life.
