Lagos Deports 15 Alien Beggars

Fifteen foreign beggars have been deported to their various countries by the Lagos State government says the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru.



This is part of moves by the state government to get rid of beggars and destitute in the state, who have been constituting a nuisance to the society.

“The deported beggars included 13 Benin Republic and two Niger Republic citizens. The state government has handed them over to their various embassies for onward integration with their families,” said Badru.

The Special Adviser also disclosed that 4,158 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged people were evacuated from the streets in the last one year and were taken to the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Owutu, Ikorodu, for rehabilitation.

According to him, the mentally unstable ones are receiving medical attention, while 36 able-bodied ones suspected to be criminals were handed over to the police.

Badru added that in line with the zero tolerance on begging and destitute in the state, 875 beggars were presently undergoing training at the state’s Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun, in the areas of carpentry, cane work, weaving, barbing and shoemaking.

He said 680 of beggars and destitute had been transferred to their various states/country of origin.

In addition, Badru urged the public to desist from giving alms to beggars and the homeless on the streets as they constituted menace and nuisance to the society.

“Members of the public who may wish to help the less privileged in the society should donate their widow’s mite to any church or mosque, registered orphanages, motherless babies homes and approved social welfare institutions,” he said.

The Special Adviser also disclosed that 11 students who were involved in drug abuse were made to undergo detoxification and rehabilitation and have returned to resume their studies in their various institutions of higher learning.

Badru lamented that the vulnerability of the youth to drug abuse and trafficking in the state in recent times had become a major concern, adding that these have resulted in rape, violence, child abuse, robbery and other anti-social behaviour.

He said the ministry organised a stakeholders’ seminar on this recently to educate and enlighten the youths and stakeholders on the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption and to encourage a self determination attitude against its use.