Metro

Lagos deploys Police, Man ‘O’ to take beggars off street

Beggars constituting nuisance on streets of Lagos

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

To give a bite to it’s desire to rid Lagos State streets of beggars and destitutes, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in collaboration with the Police, Man ‘O’ War have embarked on rescue of beggars on the state.

In an exercise tagged “Rescue Operation” undertaken by a special team of the Rescue and Rehabilitation department of the Ministry in the state, major streets and markets in Mushin, Fadeyi, Yaba, Lekki and Sabo areas of Lagos were visited to rescue beggars as well as destitutes

Other volunteers took part in the rescue of also vulnerable people from the streets, under bridges, uncompleted buildings and other places unfit for human habitation who have presently constituted environmental nuisance.

The Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu it would be recalled few weeks ago addressed a press conference at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, informing the public of the plan, purpose and modus operandi of the special team set up to rescue beggars, destitute and vulnerable persons.

His words: “As a responsible and responsive government, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led-administration will not fold its arms and watch the State become a haven for beggars.”

“Street begging is a social vice that we cannot afford to watch attain uncontrollable level before we act; otherwise, all the good plans and programs to transform our dear State would be adversely affected, which is same with street hawking.”

At the end of the exercise, the Head of Rehabilitation and Rescue Department, Mrs. Olutoyin Jaiyeola reminded that from different areas of the state, about 128 persons, including male and female as well as mentally challenged persons, destitute and beggars were rescued by the team.