The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a warning to roadside beggars to desist from the act or risk being arrested by enforcement agents. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, disclosed this during the official flag-off ceremony…
Lagos clears squatters on Red Line rail, impounds 425 bikes
Officials of the Lagos State Task Force have removed squatters along the newly commissioned Red Line rail in the Fagba area of the state. They also impounded approximately 425 commercial motorcycles whose owners were reportedly using restricted routes in the…
Welcome to Lagos, where beggars have a choice – Lucia Edafioka
There is something about living in Lagos that gives people a funny sense of superiority and entitlement. I have watched this several times outside Lagos, of course, a person smugly telling another from say Warri or Enugu that they live…
No social distancing as traders, beggars, others resume activities in Lagos
Just as the ease of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) lockdown directive by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, became effective in Lagos State on Monday, Lagosians were seen trooping out to resume their daily activities. Some of these Lagosians were seen…
Beggars in Lagos urged to pick up a vocation, get skilled
Beggars in Lagos State have been advised to drop begging as a vocation and rather take advantage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act signed into law last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, which among other items mandates…
Why we no longer give alms to street beggars in Lagos – Peju Akande
If you’ve ever been in one of those long traffic jams in Lagos, you must have seen these women who carry twin babies while begging for alms. It seems they are forever having babies. They are mostly at the Maryland…
Lagos will break your heart – Lucia Edafioka
There are many shortcuts I take home, but I have noticed something on one of them: in the morning there is an old man in rags with little tumours all over his skin but by evening a younger man takes…
In Nigeria, beggars are choosers – Peju Akande
If you’ve read Aminata Sow Fall’s novel, The Beggars Strike, you will begin to understand the sense of entitlement most beggars have. They know that we Africans are a very religious bunch who place the giving of alms as top…
Lagosians talk to Ambode about begging
Beggars seem to have taken over the streets of Lagos. Everywhere you turn somebody wants something for food, transport or hospital bill. For some people it is a tradition, maybe even a religious duty so they don’t mind. But some…
Lagos beggars won’t make Heaven – Toni Kan
If you live in Lagos chances are that you have met one of any of the variants of Lagos beggars. See, Lagos beggars have a sub-category of their own in beggar-dom. Lagos beggars are the X-men of beggars, The Guardians…