Lagos takes over amputee ‘pure water’ hawker’s case amidst huge humanitarian support
Following the huge humanitarian support that Mary Daniel, an amputee, single mother and a sachet water hawker has been receiving from within and outside Nigeria,
Following the huge humanitarian support that Mary Daniel, an amputee, single mother and a sachet water hawker has been receiving from within and outside Nigeria, the Lagos State Government has taken over her welfare for fear of safety.
Narrating her ordeal to newsmen, she said she is a dropout of Junior Secondary School 3; having live through the heat of life, she lost her parents and her right leg to an accident in December 2006 while they were travelling to their hometown in Ayingba, Kogi State from Katsina State for Yuletide.
However, in other to survive, she took to the street, selling sachet water to cater to herself and her aged grandmother based in Ayingba.
Painfully, she was impregnated in 2018 by a man who denied responsibility, forcing her to relocate to Delta State out of shame.
She relocated to Lagos about two weeks ago, hawking bottled water in Lagos hectic gridlock; moreso, passing the night on the balcony of a building on Suwebatu Street, Oshodi.
“The case of Mary (Daniel) was brought to my attention this afternoon (Monday) by the Managing Director, Lottery Board. Two politicians from Oshodi brought her with her ATM card. They said they were concerned about her safety as donations have been coming into her account.
“We asked if she wanted the state government to take over the case and help her settle down and she agreed. That is why the Office of Civic Engagement under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is taking over her case. I have called the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development. She would be settled in a home in Ikorodu for about a week.
“I will be her guardian and make sure that she is properly settled in Lagos. We will make sure she becomes a responsible citizen in Lagos.”
Moreso, among several other donations, a former Imo State governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu has also presented a cheque of N500,000 to Daniel with another N500,000 pledge by his friends.
