Lagos not alone in transfer of destitute; ...Rivers repatriates destitute & beggars to states of origin

The transfer of beggars and destitute people back to their states of origins is not unique to Lagos State.

The Rivers Government is to remove beggars and destitute people from streets in the state in a bid to rid the state of beggars, destitute people and lunatics, while some have already been sent to their states of origin.

Stella Toby, Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, made the announcement in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday.

She said the beggars, destitute people and mentally-ill people were constituting problems on some major streets and roads in the state.

Ms. Toby said the State Government had set up a special committee charged with the responsibility of restoring sanity on major areas of the state.

“Most of the beggars are from neighbouring states and I can assure you that they will be removed from the streets and repatriated back to their respective states,” she said.

The Chairman of the committee, Mina Jamabo, said that about 113 beggars, destitute and lunatics had already been removed from the streets.

He said that some of the affected persons had been taken to the state’s rehabilitation centres for treatment.

Ms. Jamabo said that non-indigenes had since been repatriated to their various states, while the indigenes would be treated by the government until they were fit to re-unite with their families.


I do not condone the act of 'deporting' fellow Nigerians without proper rehabilitation or with due process. But we should note that destitute and beggars cannot survive in mega-cities without connoting nuisance or resulting to crime.

I am of the opinion that destitute and beggars should be 'cleared' of the streets of our cities, well rehabilitated and integrated into mechanised farming in rural areas with good pay and support