LASG, Arewa community reach consensus to end street begging
…Street beggars to be declared illegal persons
By Moses Adeniyi
Towards ensuring an enduring solution is proferred to the menace of street begging on the streets of Lagos metropolis, the State Government has commenced stakeholders engagement on how to curb the menace in the best interest of the majority.
The State Ministry of Youth and Social Development commenced the Stakeholders engagement with the representatives of Arewa Community in the State.
At the meeting, held in Alausa, the State Secretariat in Ikeja, the Capital of Lagos, a consensus was reached on both sides (Arewa Community and Lagos Government) that street begging must not be allowed any where in the State.
In his address, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende stated that street begging which has started rearing its head in the State had been banned in line with the State Environmental Law and the Child Rights Law.
According to the Commissioner, the Stakeholders meeting was prompted by the resurgence of the menace of street begging in every nook and cranny of the State which would not contribute to its socioeconomic development in any way.
In his words: “As a responsible and responsive government, we have decided to hold this meeting as part of our collaborative approach towards eradicating street begging in the State. It has become a nuisance which we cannot afford to close our eyes to. Lagosians are seriously disturbed by this ugly trend, just as Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is worried about the negative image that street begging is giving to the Greater Lagos that is being built.”
In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs), Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu deplored the act of using babies to solicit alms, adding that it was violating the fundamental human rights of children as enshrined in the Child Rights Law which the State Government was signatory to.
Pharm (Mrs) Oke-Osanyintolu said, “it’s disheartening to see children being used to beg for alms on our streets. It becomes more worrisome when you consider the fact that the future of some of the children who are of school age is being jeopardized by this group of people who indulge in this unwholesome act just because of money.
“The State Government through the Ministry has put in place several policies and programmes to enhance the lives of all Lagosians irrespective of their tribe or religion. In addition, there are many Skill Acquisition Centres where people can go and acquire a skill in any vocation of their choice to earn a living in a legitimate way rather than begging,” the Permanent Secretary added.
In their submissions, Chairman, Lagos State Council of Arewa Chiefs, Alh Ali Kabir and Chairman, Arewa Community Community, Alh Yusuf Saadu Dandare corroborated the stance of the Ministry on the issue of street begging.
The duo stated that they would support the State Government in eradicating street begging by discouraging those in their communities from engaging in it
The Arewa leaders promised to approach well meaning individuals like Alh Aliko Dangote and Alh Abdulsamad Rabiu for financial assistance to support those who would abandon begging for productive venture.
Both the representatives of Arewa Community and Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development agreed to: “treat those who indulge in street begging as illegal persons, do massive sensitisation, give a period of grace for the beggars to desist and collaborate to fish out the syndicate involved in the act of recruiting children into begging.”
