Beggars storm Lagos House of Assembly to protest their removal from streets

Hundreds of beggars, on Monday, stormed the Lagos State House Assembly (LAHA) to protest their removal from the streets.

The beggars described the state government's recent clampdown on their activities as unfair, demanding that they be left alone.

Jubril Hassan, the President of the Association of Physically Challenged, said it was illegal for the state government to drive them off the streets where they make a living and enjoy their "social rights".


"Our movement within Lagos metropolis has been restricted, such that anyone caught roaming the street is taken to Majidun Prison (state rehabilitation centre). We are here to express our displeasure with the way the state government has been treating us," he said at the peaceful protest.

Hassan also described the condition at the rehabilitation centre as "appalling and devastating", adding that living there could cause further harm to their health.

According to him, the state policy to get them off the streets would worsen their suffering rather than improve it.

In his address to journalists, Hassan also condemned a recent state policy that makes the giving of alms an offence which could attract up to two years in prison.

Calling for the intervention of civil society groups and human rights activists, Hassan appealed to the state government to revert such laws that could affect their movement or prevent the public from offering financial assistance to them.

Their association secretary, Zakariwai Hassan, claimed that over 600 beggars had been arrested by government agencies without making adequate alternative provisions for them.

Receiving the protesters on behalf of the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, his Special Adviser on Security, Tunde Panox, assured them that the concerns would be addressed, while urging them to remain calm and law-abiding.

"Your issue has been noted and I am assuring you that the government would find a solution to it urgently," he added.