Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to the evacuation of beggars, destitutes and homeless children from the streets as well as under the bridges of the metropolis.
Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to the evacuation of beggars, destitutes and homeless children from the streets as well as under the bridges of the metropolis.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele, who disclosed this at the weekend, while explaining the state government's social welfare policies noted that the evacuation of beggars, destitutes, homeless children and the aged from the streets of the metropolis is an exercise the state government has resolved to bring under control once and for all, noting that government would not fold its arms and allow beggars and destitutes to over run the state.
Bamidele pointed out that behind every beggar on the streets of Lagos is a baron, who shelters them at night and positions them at various spots on the streets and shares the daily takings with them.
He noted that the state government's step becomes expedient particularly because of the report that beggars, destitutes and homeless children, who in their seeming innocence solicit for alms on the streets of the metropolis, serve as arms carriers for armed robbers.
He pointed out that Lagos would not provide avenues for barons to import beggars and destitute from various parts of the continent into the state with the sole aim of commercializing them.
He called on parents, who hand over their children to relatives in the city to always take time off to find out what such children do in the city.
Lagos, Bamidele noted, has the best social welfare policy in the country, explaining that the policy encourages non-Lagosians to enjoy free shelter, clothing and food in any of the state's 13 social welfare institutions, where over 4,000 residents currently live.
The Commissioner emphasized that even though the evacuation and rescuing of beggars, destitutes and homeless persons in the metropolis is a routine exercise, the State Government's evacuation and rescuing team would begin a massive and daily raiding of beggars and destitutes in a matter of days.