By Headlinenews.news Editorial Board
A rare but provocative protest erupted on the streets of Lagos this week as a group of beggars and itinerant persons, primarily of northern Nigerian origin, staged a rally demanding formal recognition and support from the Lagos State Government. The demonstration, reportedly organized in front of the Lagos State Secretariat, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and indigenous organizations, with calls on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act decisively to preserve public order, security, and indigenous rights.
The development has reopened long-standing debates around interstate migration, federalism, urban management, and socio-cultural equity in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
BACKGROUND: Fashola’s Precedent on Interstate Migration
This is not the first time Lagos has confronted the influx of destitute populations from other states. During his tenure as Governor (2007–2015), Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN implemented a statewide repatriation policy that identified destitute persons—many of them unskilled, homeless, and chronically dependent—and transported them back to their states of origin.
According to official Lagos State records at the time, over 3,000 beggars and miscreants were repatriated to Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Bauchi between 2011 and 2014. The move was justified on the grounds of:
Urban security and cleanliness
Public health risks posed by street beggars
The constitutional right of states to determine residency and welfare criteria
Fashola stated in 2013:
“Every state must bear the responsibility for its own people. We cannot continue to shoulder the burdens of those who have no ties or contributions to Lagos.”
THE SECURITY & SOCIO-ECONOMIC THREAT
The resurgence of organized street begging poses serious security, sanitation, and infrastructure challenges. Lagos, home to over 22 million residents, already grapples with:
Congested roads, strained housing, and overburdened hospitals
Over 5,000 known beggars operating daily in public areas as per 2024 LASAMBUS data
Rise in petty crime often linked to vagrant populations
Insufficient mental health and substance abuse facilities to manage the influx
Security experts warn that the unregulated migration of jobless, undocumented individuals into Lagos increases the risk of terrorism, urban crime rings, and radicalization, especially given the history of infiltration by criminal elements in disguise.
“Lagos is not a refugee camp. It is a functioning megacity with responsibilities to its tax-paying residents first,” said a security analyst at the Nigerian Urban Security Forum.
RIGHTS, FEDERALISM & INDIGENOUS CLAIMS
The beggars’ rally, calling for “equal rights” and state care, was seen by many Yoruba leaders and civil society observers as misguided and provocative.
Under Nigeria’s federal structure:
Citizens may reside in any state, but rights to state-based welfare, land, or special considerations are typically reserved for indigenes.
No constitutional obligation exists for Lagos to provide care or recognition to persons with no economic, ancestral, or legal residency links.
“There can be no rights without responsibility. You cannot relocate en masse from your home state and expect Lagos to carry your burden,” said Chief Jide Ogunbiyi, spokesperson of the Omo Eko Cultural Foundation.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU
Governor Sanwo-Olu, widely respected for balancing inclusiveness with state integrity, is now under pressure to reassert Lagos State’s autonomy and avoid setting a dangerous precedent.
Policy recommendations include:
1. Reintroduce the Fashola Model: Conduct biometric identification and humane repatriation of non-indigenous beggars back to their states, with logistical support.
2. Engage Northern Governors: Demand reciprocal responsibility and state-based welfare systems for destitute populations in their home states.
3. Enforce Public Order Laws: Declare zero tolerance for organized begging rings, especially those involving minors and trafficked individuals.
4. Recognize Indigenous Priorities: Prioritize Lagos indigenes for social housing, healthcare access, and employment schemes.
THE NORTHERN GOVERNORS MUST STEP UP
The northern states from which many of these beggars originate must not abdicate their responsibilities. Many of them receive federal allocations, ecological funds, and security support, yet provide little or no structured welfare for the most vulnerable.
Instead of silently enabling a north-to-south welfare migration, governors of Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and others must:
Build rehabilitation centers
Offer skill acquisition for street children (Almajirai)
Create state-level social safety nets
Launch coordinated repatriation agreements
“You cannot export your failures to other states under the guise of unity,” said Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, a governance strategist. “True federalism means carrying your weight—socially, economically, and morally.”
CONCLUSION: LAGOS IS NOT A DUMPING GROUND
The right to freedom of movement does not imply a right to overwhelm, to beg, or to claim unearned entitlements. Lagos must remain a model of organized development, not a magnet for unmanaged migration.
Governor Sanwo-Olu must act swiftly, lawfully, and unapologetically, invoking Fashola’s pragmatic legacy while protecting Lagos from being economically diluted and culturally destabilized.
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COMMENTS FROM DISTINGUISHED PERSONS REGARDING BEGGARS DEMAND FOR RIGHTS(A)
1. Lagos Not a Dumping Ground: Sanwo-Olu Urged to Repatriate Influx of Northern Beggars
“States must manage their populations responsibly. No federation thrives on imbalance.”
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria
“You cannot export your failures to other states under the guise of unity.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, Governance Consultant
2. Beggars Protest in Lagos: Calls Grow for Northern Governors to Take Responsibility
“Charity begins at home—and so does governance.”
— Nelson Mandela
“Every Nigerian governor must rise to care for his people within his state borders.”
— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 2023 national broadcast
3. Repatriation Demands Rise as Street Beggars Rally in Lagos for ‘Rights’
“The right to freedom of movement is not the right to burden another people’s economy.”
— Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
“The primary duty of every state is to its own people first.”
— Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Kaduna State Governor
4. Sanwo-Olu Faces Test: Should Lagos Shoulder Nigeria’s Social Burdens?
“Lagos is not an orphanage for other states.”
— Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State Governor
“Leadership is accepting that your failures must not become another’s burden.”
— Joe Biden, paraphrased from remarks on state accountability
5. Street Protest or State Parasite? Lagos Confronts Northern Beggars’ Demands
“When beggars organize protests in another state, it means something is wrong at home.”
— Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Yoruba leader
“Injustice is when one region neglects its poor and expects another to fix it.”
— Tony Elumelu, entrepreneur and philanthropist
6. Fashola Deported Them. Will Sanwo-Olu Welcome Them Back?
“You don’t inherit problems you’ve already solved.”
— Babatunde Fashola, urban policy legacy quote
“Precedent is the backbone of good governance.”
— Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Human Rights Advocate
7. Unity Without Responsibility: The Unspoken Burden of Federalism
“True federalism means carrying your weight—socially, economically, and morally.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
“The idea of unity cannot be used to justify administrative laziness.”
— Atiku Abubakar, 2018 restructuring summit
8. When Rights Become Abuse: The Danger of Misplaced Entitlement
“The right to movement is not a right to entitlement.”
— Legal Panel, Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference, 2022
“Irresponsibility is the greatest enemy of unity.”
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General
9. From Almajiri to Liability: Nigeria’s Neglect and Lagos’ Dilemma
“The Almajiri system must be reformed; otherwise, we are breeding a time bomb.”
— Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, 2013 education forum
“Development must be inclusive and regional—not exported.”
— UNDP Nigeria Development Report, 2020
10. Migration, Misrule, and the Myth of Shared Destiny
“Shared destiny is a myth when responsibility is not shared.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
“Unity without justice is merely pressure disguised as peace.”
— Nelson Mandela, adapted from 1994 inauguration speech
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special compilation.
For comments, email: editor@headlinenews.news
REACTIONS & COMMENTS ON NORTHERN BEGGARS PROTEST & DEMAND FOR RIGHTS(B)
“Lagos Not a Dumping Ground: Sanwo-Olu Urged to Repatriate Influx of Northern Beggars”
1. “States must manage their populations responsibly. No federation thrives on imbalance.” — Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria
1. “If the house is overcrowded, don’t blame the door for closing.” — Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General
4. “Urban security begins with controlled migration.” — Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
5. “No city can carry another state’s failure indefinitely.” — Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos (2024 statement on infrastructure strain)
6. “Let every government feed its own poor before exporting the problem.” — Nasir El-Rufai, 2013 comment on northern migration.
7. “Lagos is the pride of the Yoruba. It must remain orderly and progressive.” — Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere Leader
8. “The right to movement is not a right to entitlement.” — Legal commentary, Nigerian Bar Association Conference 2022
9. “Allowing chaos in the name of unity is not leadership.” — Muhammadu Buhari (paraphrased from 2019 Independence Speech)
10. “Federalism dies when accountability is exported.” — Dr. Kayode Fayemi, ex-Governor of Ekiti State
“Beggars Protest in Lagos: Calls Grow for Northern Governors to Take Responsibility”
1. “Charity begins at home—and so does governance.” — Nelson Mandela
2. “Leadership is accepting that your failures must not become another’s burden.” — Joe Biden (paraphrased)
3. “When beggars organize protests in another state, it means something is wrong at home.” — Alhaji Balarabe Musa (historic comment on state failure)
4. “Every Nigerian governor must rise to care for his people within his state borders.” — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023 national address)
5. “Abandonment of the poor is not federalism—it is injustice.” — Peter Obi
6. “Lagos is not an orphanage for other states.” — Fashola, former Lagos Governor
7. “Unity means equity, not exploitation.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres (on global migration)
8. “Governments must stop exporting the poverty they refuse to fix.” — Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
9. “Without ownership, there can be no development.” — World Bank Policy Note on Local Governance, 2021
10. “Northern Nigeria must stop pushing its social crisis southward.” — Arewa Consultative Forum (internal memo, 2020)
“Fashola Deported Them. Will Sanwo-Olu Welcome Them Back?”
1. “You don’t inherit problems you’ve once solved.” — Babatunde Fashola (on urban policy, 2014)
2. “Precedent is the backbone of strategic governance.” — Prof. Chidi Odinkalu
3. “Lagos is for builders, not for burdens.” — Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos
4. “Respect history, or repeat the same errors.” — Chinua Achebe
5. “We must uphold the legacy of order, not reward anarchy.” — Dr. Joe Abah
6. “When your house is clean, don’t let your neighbor’s dirt in.” — Yoruba proverb cited by Gani Fawehinmi
7. “A governor’s duty is first to his people.” — Rotimi Akeredolu
8. “Governance is continuity—and courage.” — Kayode Fayemi
9. “Fashola gave us a model. Sanwo-Olu must give us a future.” — Lagos Indigenous Forum Statement
10. “Good governance is not sentiment, it is action.” — UN Habitat Report on African Cities, 2020
“No Room for Irresponsibility: Lagos Pushes Back on Imported Beggars”
1. “Every man must carry his cross. Every government, its people.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
2. “Irresponsibility is the greatest enemy of unity.” — Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
3. “There is no dignity in poverty tourism.” — Lagos Policy Brief, 2023
4. “When we export our beggars, we import disrespect.” — Arewa Youth Forum, 2021 rebuke
5. “States that refuse to reform create refugees, not citizens.” — Human Rights Watch Nigeria
6. “Being poor is not shameful, but refusing to act is.” — Tony Elumelu
7. “Unity thrives on equity, not dependence.” — UNICEF Nigeria representative, 2022
8. “When Lagos becomes a dumping ground, Nigeria starts to rot.” — Chief Bisi Akande
9. “Misgovernance in one region should not become lawlessness in another.” — Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
10. “The poor must be protected at home, not paraded abroad.” — Pope Francis (adapted)
The National Patriots
Headlinenews.news Special Report.
NIGERIANS REACT TO BEGGARS RALLY & PROTEST IN LAGOS GOVERNMENT HOUSE (C)
1. Lagos Not a Dumping Ground: Sanwo-Olu Urged to Repatriate Influx of Northern Beggars.
Exactly, send them packing soonest the way Fashola used his executive powers as the Chief Executiveof the State. Inform Ashiwaju first so he will not be offended, then get them out. When Dangote or their Governors go to cry to Ashiwaju, he will let them understand you are in charge of the state and have your reasons for the action. Give Dangote new conditions for the refinery land lease. Revoke sale. No Lagos land will be sold to a non- indigene like in Dubai. Give him 15yrs lease, renewable. He will behave himself properly if he knows he will renew. Give terms and conditions for workforce employment – 75% yoruba out of which indigenes must be 50%. Unskilled workforce must be 100% indigenes. We have too many indigenes and yorubas unskilled workforce in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu must declare now that all companies operating in Lagos State must employ 75% of indigenes and Yoruba into the company. Please do this immediately. We will monitor you now.
All destitutes, miscreants must be shipped out to their states with a stern warning not to return or face imprisonment. Please act like a man. Lagos is becoming like a State without a Governor. Act, because we will act. Get the police to support as CP, AIG are Yorubas. Work fast, because we are watching.
We will stop those Northern Governors using their lodges and liason offices to harbour unemployed criminals, drug addicts, miscreants, robbers from their operations. They have spoilt Victoria Island for the yoruba elite.
Amotekun Commander.
2. Beggars Protest in Lagos: Calls Grow for Northern Governors to Take Responsibility.
Yes, it’s time to call those Northern Governors to order. They can’t turn Lagos into their dumping ground or garbage dump! Lagosians are now ready to act in face of growing insecurity nationwide, especially in the North. So, they are exporting their bandits to Lagos through evil collaborators and Boko Haram Sponsors like Dangote. How many Dangote trucks have been caught smuggling arms and bandits across the Nation? It’s always covered up by the police which is dominated by Northerners. Dangote even had the audacity to import bandits to Lagos from Katsina under the guise of unskilled workforce for his refinery in Lagos and provided accommodation, feeding etc for them! Do we not have unskilled labour in Lagos? Even the Labour Union protested. Dangote has an agenda and has overstayed his welcome in Lagos. Where are those Katsina bandits now? Will someone be ready to accommodate and feed ordinary people in his refinery premises without any reason. Let’s be smart. They must raid that refinery complex and revoke the permit given him for the land. The land must be on lease and he must pay the market value otherwise all that land will become another Kano and Katsina insurgents den for bandits operating in Lagos and Southwest. Let’s be proactive. Let’s be wise. Omo Karo ojire. Don’t sell your birthright for a pot of stew or dollars! These people are planning something.
Retired Intelligence officer.
3. Repatriation Demands Rise as Street Beggars Rally in Lagos for ‘Rights’.
Which rights? Their mama or papa be indigene? So which rights? They are being sponsored by some people to test the waters and have failed. Rights ko, rights ni. Sanwo-Olu must invoke his executive order and get them thrown out the way Fashola did. One must be strict and stern as a governor. These beggars have guts to try this in Alausa. Who funded them there? This is an undisclosed agenda that has just started, better to nip it in the bud before it turns into a full blown security issue. We must be proactive. It’s not just a rally, but who is using these destitutes to gain leverage in Lagos. Flush them out please or lagosians will strike.
Transport Union member. Lagos
4. Sanwo-Olu Faces Test: Should Lagos Shoulder Nigeria’s Social Burdens?
Never! How can? Lagos is Yorubaland, and we can not lose our status for Nigeria. In fact, we want to leave Nigeria, but it’s because our brother is president and working hard to correct the imbalance that we have stopped the agitation to leave. After Tinubu’s 8 years by God’s grace, we may decide to leave if any region tries any rubbish with us. Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop is over! Lagos has tried enough, let another zone try or send these people back to their states. Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna should take care of their people. Rehabilitate your people and keep them or let them beg on your own streets if that is your culture. We don’t want them here. They have become a nuisance. Lagos is a cosmopolitan city, not a base for beggars. How can we encourage tourism with such a shameless beggar community who are Dangote’s relatives. This is terrible. Why are these Northerners so shameless. A man claims he is the richest man in Africa and his people are destitutes begging on the streets of another man’s house. Isn’t there something wrong? They are his people, and he must cooperate with the state government and people of Lagos to remove them or face problems with his own projects in yorubaland. They need proper healthcare and medical intervention, medication, accommodation, food, and work are important needs for them in their community. They don’t understand yoruba or English and have no business in Lagos. Begging is going out of fashion, so many of them are working as moles for armed robbery gangs because they appear innocent.
Dr. Rotimi Adeoyo.
5. Beggars’ Rally Sparks Outrage: Lagos Indigenes Demand Protection of State Rights.
We are indigenes of this state and will never allow our rights to be shared with non indigenes from any state. Our revenue must not be used for non- indigenes, and its time to ship these beggars back to their states the way Fashola did.
The HoA must enact relevant laws so this does not repeat itself. After Fashola sent the away and did the biometrucs, any found who returned must be jailed before being sent back. They won’t return. Start jailing them, please. They are like cockroaches who one can’t get rid of easily after they multiply. Its better to move fast with an executive fiat or order and start sending them away. We don’t want them.
Ibile Eko Indigene Forum.
6. No Room for Irresponsibility: Lagos Pushes Back on Imported Beggars.
We don’t want them in Lagos. Let them go to Wike in Abuja. He will welcome them or deport them to their original state. These Northern Governors are useless. How can they not provide for their people with all the billions they are stealing????? Are they not ashamed? Anyway, one must be shameless to steal money meant for the people, so it’s not surprising. Lagos is changing. There is no way for these beggar criminals & miscreants. We are in a period of insecurity, and they can’t send their bandits to Lagos. I know it’s deliberate, but we will reject it. If the state government fails to act, Lagosians will act. These beggars have an agenda demanding for rights! It means they are troublemakers, so they must return to their states to demand those rights from their Governors who are looting their money. We have no business with them, and we don’t want them.
Alimi Ishola. Uber driver.
7. Beggars in Protest, Lagos on Alert: Whose Burden Is It?
It is their northern state, Burden. It doesn’t concern us. Sanwo-Olu had better act immediately. This is not a joke. What happened to the probe panel Sanwo-Olu set up to look into the 100 Katsina bandits Dangote imported? I want to testify to that panel so you had better not cover up. I trust the media like Headlinenews.news will not let that matter go unresolved. Dangote must go. Let him carry his refinery to Kano. He has insulted us here.
Let Dangote carry his beggar brothers. Is it not strange that they know his house in VI but no beggar goes there? It shows this beggar thing is a setup. They know what they are doing, so please send them away from Yorubaland fast. Follow Fashola’s style. It worked. Act now, let their sponsors & protectors show up, then publish it. House of Assembly should make the Laws quickly and include their sponsors, collaborators, and protectors liable for prosecution. Do this urgently, please. Obasa, please act. Sanwo-Olu, please act. You have 7 days to act before people take the laws in their hands.
Legal Luminary.lagos.
8. Fashola Deported Them. Will Sanwo-Olu Welcome Them Back?
Never. Sanwo-Olu will not dare allow them back. He must get the police to assist and apprehend them so they can be sent away. Not only from the North, but other jobless non Indigenes, drug addicts, miscreants. We need peace in Lagos. Their Governors must take care of their people. They don’t speak our language and have no business here. Lagos should not welcome non- Indigenes anymore. Let them go to their respective states for peace. We must enforce it. A visit is enough not to live, buy land, then compete with Indigenes for Rights. I was at the general hospital one day, and it’s free for some level of medical consultation. One ibo man was shouting and threatening a yoruba doctor, I was shocked. You would have thought he would know his place as a non- indigene and be humble in his approach. Please healthcare etc should only be free for Indigenes & people of Yoruba extraction. That’s how a Northerner printed posters and was fighting yorubas for elections in Etiosa, an elite area. Unbelievable. Lagos House of Assembly, state government must act immediately to protect us in our region and deport these people.
Pastor Oluwaseun
9. Street Protest or State Parasite? Lagos Confronts Northern Beggars’ Demands.
It is good that they have shown us their power of Assembly. Now we must show them our own power of action immediately. Governor Lagos must move to deport all beggars from Lagos and arrest any who remains after 7 days. They can’t try this anywhere else. Did Uba Sani not claim he is the best Northern Governor? Rubbish. His people are liabilities to other states while he is gloating all over the media. The next time he goes on Channels or another station, we will embarrass him. Let him build accommodation for the destitutes in his state, so they stop coming to disturb us in Lagos. Let him tell his colleagues, too. This is unacceptable. A True leader acts not talks. I challenge all Northern Governors to make arrangements for their destitutes & criminals sent to Lagos for welfare before lagosians start action. We don’t want them in Lagos.
Retired Military General, Lagos.
10. Not Our Problem: Lagos Indigenes Demand Mass Repatriation of Beggars.
I agree I have been inundated with calls from so many quarters that these beggars and miscreants must be deported from Lagos for peace. We will impress it upon His Excellency to act on it immediately as they are a big problem in Lagos, and those sponsoring them like Dangote should be penalized. Nobody is greater than Indigenes. Dangote is not a yoruba man, and one day, he will be shown the way out of yorubaland in shame. The collaborators and protectors of these beggars too must be unveiled and punished. They are in the Police force, Army, Navy, and Airforce in Lagos. For example, why do beggars always converge around the Legico residence on Ahmadu Bello way, Bonny camp, etc. Wherever there are security agencies’ residence, they are there for protection. By Kano Governors lodge VI, they are there and sell drugs. Bishop Oluwole str VI, they are there as the liaison office of some Northern states are there, so they protect them. All those places sell drugs & work with armed robbers. All uncompleted buildings off Adeola Odeku is their hideout. They have invaded an elite residential area. Please just deport these people.
Alhaji Taoreed Oshodi.
11. Unity Without Responsibility: The Unspoken Burden of Federalism.
Correct. But we must rise to this burden and act to protect our territory from vermin and scum. We can’t continue with this burden. Our House of Assembly should enact laws immediately and flush these liabilities out of our territory. Sometime ago, we tolerated them, but now, with rising insecurity and increase in their numbers, we must send them back to where they came from. Let Dangote the richest man in Africa take care of his beggar brothers & sisters in their place – Kano. He was accused of using his tricks to bring beggars and miscreants to Lagos and Southwest, so let him take them back and set up industries in the North to engage them or accommodation for them in the North. How can the richest man Aliko Dangote have peace when his people are constituting themselves into a nuisance in another region begging for alms. Dangote must rise to this responsibility immediately. Is he not ashamed? Calling himself the richest man when his brothers and people are begging for survival? What a paradox! Dangote must pack all those Katsina bandits he imported to Lagos last month and return them back to Katsina. Dangote is warned now, never ever, to try it again. The next time he imports his bandits into Lagos, Lagosians will teach him a lesson. His refinery will not function again because we can call on our ancestors for help with Sango and Ogun since his refinery is an engine, Ogun can make it stop working just like a vehicle or tr Besides, our boys who know what to do.
Awo Ifatunde , Traditional priest.
12. When Rights Become Abuse: The Danger of Misplaced Entitlement.
Imagine! Beggars from another state demanding rights from Lagos state! What audacity! Some people are behind this move, and Sanwo-Olu had better act fast to put out the fire. These beggars are showing their power now and will become a nuisance until 2027. They may be used by the opposition. Please deport them back to the North immediately. These beggars on wheels are the ones behind every crime in the traffic or on the streets. They deal in stolen phones, help thieves hide stolen goods, steal from under the vehicles in traffic, and puncture tyres so they can make sure the vehicle stops after a short distance. They are the worst criminals because they are handicapped. They are very strong. It’s better to get rid of them now. Make Street begging illegal in Lagos. Send them back to their states and arrest anyone seen anywhere in Lagos. Their pushcarts can only be inside the market. Any pushcart seen anywhere else must be impounded, and the owner jailed.
Olajumoke Awotunde. Teacher.
13. Home Is Where Responsibility Begins: The Moral Duty of Northern States.
True. These Northern Governors should make provision for the rehabilitation of their people not push it to other States. It’s irresponsible. I don’t respect those governors from those states. Let them build accommodation for their vulnerable citizens and teach them skills even for the handicapped. See how China cares for its handicapped. Our politicians are only interested in looting. Their state houses of assembly should make laws to restrict migration and provide for them in their communities. They must establish lepers’ colonies and treat them there. Lagos government should be strict on it and jail them, then send them back to their states or even kill them. They are responsible for the death of many by robbery, so there must be a stiff punishment to make them avoid the Southwest. We need peace.
Oluwatosin Mabayeje. Trader.
14. From Almajiri to Liability: Nigeria’s Neglect and Lagos’ Dilemma.
This is totally. unacceptable. These people have become a nuisance here in Lagos and spread all sorts of diseases. When they have leprosy, they move to Lagos to beg as they can’t work, so their state governments should take care of them. I appreciate the suggestions in this well written report. What are the state governments doing? They do interviews on television shamelessly while their people are begging for alms in other states shamelessly. What hypocrisy. These governors should be held accountable. We don’t need their liabilities in Lagos. Enough is enough.
Bolaji Oluyemi. Banker.
15. Migration, Misrule, and the Myth of Shared Destiny.
So, who will bell the cat. This nonsense has been going on for too long and must stop now! All the insecurity in the Southwest is related directly or indirectly to this category of “beggars.” To be honest, the security agencies in Lagos are fully aware, but since the Nigerian Police is 80% dominated and populated by a force of Northern extraction, they protect them. One ASP Mukaila from Milverton Police Station ikoyi harassed a DPO for putting Northern criminals in jail for prosecution after stealing and insisted they must be released. His words were clear, that his people have to find something to eat anyway and shouldn’t be denied their daily bread. Imagine. I was there and heard it all. He warned them to leave his people and stop arresting them. Since then, their population tripled in the area, and robbery cases have increased until today. There should be a police audit, and enlistment must reflect the federal character so the police can work.
Prof. Olawale. Lagos.
16. To be honest, I am from the North and its disgraceful seeing this protest and demand for rights from their host. They can’t do this in the North, so why try it with the Yorubas? They should not abuse the Yoruba hospitality. They are not entitled to any rights and it will serve them right if they are all sent back to the North. I know these people and they are criminals despite their handicap. Lagos Governor should tell them to go to their Governors to demand their rights. I know some people are behind this protest. They should be Unmasked. How can destitutes wake up one morning and decide to demand their rights from another State!
Aisha Adamu. Lawyer, Kano.
17. I am shocked to see a rally of Beggars demanding their rights. Which rights? From another state? Are they ok? I am from North East and can’t imagine this happening. Why didn’t they protest in their states or go to the liason office of their states in Lagos to protest? These people are sponsored and only out to cause unrest in Lagos. Nothing more. People of Lagos must be careful. Somebody is sponsoring and using destitutes against the government. Calling the media to record the protest and so on. This is unusual and I agree that the Fashola option is the best solution now. Send them out as soon as possible back to their states.
Ibrahim Abubakar, Teacher. Katsina.
18. We from the SouthEast consider begging an abomination. These hausa people are lazy. How can an able bodied person turn to a destitute criminal? We are all visitors to Lagos to make a living. It’s their Governors that must be blamed. They have ignored their duties and to be exposed. You can never see an Ibo man doing this. They no get shame. Let Governor Lagos throw them out of Lagos, nobody go blame him. People go happy because those beggars are criminals. They removed parts of exhaust from my brother’s car in traffic around Oshodi. Anywhere there is traffic in Lagos, they are there. They use phone to inform their syndicate and they steal from cars, deflate Tyre to enable robbers to rob cars. They commit so much havoc, people living in Lagos will be in peace. I am a trader. I want peace. I am happy doing my business in Lagos. I am not involved in politics in Lagos. I mind my business. No Ibo man will go and protest for Lagos Governor to demand anything.
Chukwuemeka. Trader.
