 Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 8:58pm On Jul 30, 2013 |
What did I miss? |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 3:04am On Jul 30, 2013 |
I still have tonnes and tonnes more to post in order to educate you about the policy. I'll be back at daybreak. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:56am On Jul 30, 2013 |
[size=14pt]Fashola visits Remand Home, Skills Acquisition Centre.[/size]
We've Provided A Better Option To Begging - Fashola
…Says everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the economy as he visits Remand Home, Skills Acquisition Centre
Feb 14, 2013
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday paid a visit to the Eko Transport Company in Oshodi and the State Remand Home and Skill Acquisition Centre, Isheri, stating that for the State government, nothing is impossible to achieve.
The Governor who spoke in an interview with State House Correspondents at the Isheri Remand Home and Skills Acquisition Centre after the visit based his assertion on the successes recorded at the various vocational units including the Welding and the Electrical Pole Fabrication Department which has become a major production centre for the state's public street lighting poles and traffic light poles.
He also said the Wood Work Centre is where a lot of the State's School furniture and stuff are being made currently, adding that the major supply of the boots for Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and Neighbourhood Watch are being made at the Footwear Centre,
"We have been to the Refrigeration Unit, the Centre where they teach them basic refrigeration, maintenance, operational and management skills. We also saw the Centre where the young ladies were making foot mats, dresses and all of that. They would move on as they finish to the African Growth Opportunities Act Centre (AGOA) in collaboration with the US Government where they can begin to export some of their work", the Governor said.
Continuing, Governor Fashola explained how the centre plays a key role in developing skilled manpower even from among the indigent: "Clearly they are products of our technical colleges and also destitutes and people with drug problems taken through rehabilitation and introduced to the Centres to learn a skill and go back and become useful members of the society".
"So, when we say people should not beg on the streets, we mean it. The reason is that begging is not an option here, everybody must contribute to this economy. So those with drug problems or who are ill have the choice to go to our remand homes, where we feed them, rehabilitate them and treat them".
"So we have provided a choice and there is a law against street begging and we will enforce that law. The evidence of what that choice is has been demonstrated here. People have moved on to become very useful members of society", Governor Fashola explained. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.558801267472996.128520.146629982023462&type=1 |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:52am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: Now the question is, do these skills acquisition centres, farms, loan schemes, etc produce successes? I'll show you a success story. [size=14pt]Street-Kid Turned Vulcanizer Makes N5,000 Daily.[/size]
by berem(f): 12:01pm On May 29
About 13 years ago, Samuel Tanimola ran away from home in Ifo, Ogun State, at the age of 10 years. He came to Lagos and settled down in Dopemu area of the state.
Tanimola, who is now a vulcaniser, told our correspondent that he was fed up with the living condition at home.
However, things were not as easy as he had hoped. He had no friend and knew nobody in the new place he found himself, yet he had to feed.
Tanimola joined hordes of street children roaming the streets and feeding through the use of their wits until he was eventually arrested by the Environmental Task force on Special Offences in 2004.
He said, "I ran away because I was not happy at home; it was a polygamous setting and my mum was not living with us.
"Although things were tough on the street, it was better than home. I even tried to escape when the police raided Dopemu that day. They grabbed as many of us as they could lay hands on and took us to the remand home at Oregun. I was so scared that I imagined the worst."
For two years, Tanimola remained at the Oregun Juvenile Centre under close supervision without any contact with the outside world.
Then in March 2006, Tanimola was transferred to the Correctional Centre for Senior Boys, Isheri, where he stayed another three years.
He said, "The centre at Isheri was much better than the one in Oregun. We were allowed to go out and then return to the centre. But at Oregun, we could not go out. It was while I was staying at Isheri that I decided to learn a trade and become a vulcanizer. I have no interest in school."
PUNCH Metro learnt that Tanimola was reunited with his family in 2009. His father did not, however, return to the centre after his first visit until November 2010, when his son was formally empowered to become self reliant.
Now 23 years, Tanimola plies his trade at the Vehicle Inspection Office at Ojodu, a place which he secured through the efforts of a permanent secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social Development.
He said, "I have moved out of the centre; I now live at Akute. Business is good; there are just two of us here. On a good day, I make as much as N5,000; sometimes N3,000, and on some days, nothing at all.
"On the whole, I can take care of myself. I used to think that it was over for me but now I am happy."
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Youths, Sports and Social Development, Dr. Enitan Badru, said, "About 10 to 20 children come into our correctional centres monthly- most of them minors, caught roaming the streets or even committing crimes. Those caught committing crimes, usually face the justice system.
"These children often run away from home or were brought to Lagos by relatives. Others, fed up with life in the village, heard of a place called Lagos and got into a bus to come here, sleeping under the bridges and motor parks.
"When these children are brought in, we try to trace their families and reunite them. When we are not able to do that, we go to the courts and secure the right to keep the child and find the best means to help the child live a fulfilled life."
He said Tanimola was an example of the fact that street children could be made to become useful citizens with love and patience.
http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/metro/i-make-n5000-daily-street-kid-turned-vulcaniser/ https://www.nairaland.com/1306519/street-kid-turned-vulcanizer-makes-n5000 |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:49am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: Do you know that Lagos State has acquired farmland in Ogun State and is in discussions with Kogi and other states to acquire more farmland in those areas? Do you know why it is doing this? That's the story of the YES Agricultural Empowerment Scheme for unemployed school leavers and others.
Programmes like these are not as sexy as cable stayed bridge and Eko Atlantic City, so they don't get as much column inches in the newspapers. [quote author=GARRI (x7)][size=14pt] Lagos acquires 50 hectares of land in Abuja, and Ogun to cultivate food[/size] The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has revealed that the state government has acquired about 50 hectares of land in Abuja and neighbouring Ogun State for cultivation of food to support its agriculture and job-creation scheme. Fashola made this known on Wednesday while he was speaking about the state government’s agricultural scheme as he was presenting the states 2013 budget estimated at N497.277billion to the State House of assembly. Admitting the challenge of limited land in the coastal city, the governor stated that “due to the limited amount of land the State has to cultivate, the administration is pursuing a radical alternative of acquiring land for farming outside Lagos.” According to the Governor, “the administration has already secured 50 hectares in Abuja, and Ogun State which is four times bigger than Lagos in land size for cultivation.” He added that “other States such as Bauchi, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Katsina are favourably considering the State’s requests for farm lands.” The administration is also cultivating 75 hectares of land for rice under its Rice for Jobs programme while the irrigation project to improve, yield and produce rice per hectare is progressing positively in Badagry. Reeling out his administration’s further achievement in the agricultural sector, the governor stated that the 500 hectares of land was recently allocated for rice farming to feed the Imota Rice mill just as his administration has successfully completed the Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu, the Erikorodo Feed Mill, the Erikorodo Chicken Processing Plant, also in Ikorodu and revitalized Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate. The governor added that in Epe, the Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme is progressing with the training of a new batch of 200 graduates for whom the Executive Council recently approved the release of N500M that will be given to them shortly along with one hectare of land per farmer to enable them start formal production. www.channelstv.com/home/2012/10/31/lagos-acquires-50-hectares-of-land-in-abuja-and-ogun-to-cultivate-food/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter[/quote] https://www.nairaland.com/1090048/lagos-acquires-50-hectares-land[size=14pt] Gov Amosun Allocates 500 Hectares Of Land To Lagos State[/size] miqos02: The Ogun State Government on Wednesday allocated 500 hectares of land to the Lagos State Government for agricultural purposes.
The government said this in a statement jointly signed by the governors of Ogun and Lagos states, Ibikunle Amosun and Babatunde Fashola, at the end of a meeting between the two states.
The meeting which lasted about one hour was held at the Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta.
The statement added that the land in Eggua, Yewa North Local Government Area would be used for agricultural development.
It also said the letter of allocation for the land was presented to Fashola during the meeting.
Amosun also handed over Certificate of Occupancy of Iju Water Works to Fashola during the meeting.
The statement reads in part, “The request for agricultural land by Lagos State Government has been granted and a letter of allocation in respect of 500 hectares in Eggua (Yewa North) was presented by Amosun to Fashola.
“The Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) in respect of Iju Water Works was also handed over to the Lagos State Governor, while re-connaissance of Adiyan Water Works land area is ongoing.”
The two governors re-affirmed their committment towards regional integration of the South-West.
src: http://www.punchng.com/news/amosun-fashola-meet-over-boundary-dispute/ https://www.nairaland.com/1084470/gov-amosun-allocates-500-hectares |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:46am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: Students of the skills acquisition centres make the costumes that are used for the annual Lagos Carnival, while sponsors of the carnival bear the cost (participants in the carnival are given the costumes for free).
Upon graduation they are given interest free loans by the Lagos Micro-Finance Institution (LASMI). |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:44am On Jul 30, 2013 |
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| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:41am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: [size=14pt]LASMI to partner financially capable microfinance banks[/size]
Tweet
March 21, 2011 | 3:53 pm
Finance
By Amaka Abayomi
In its bid to eradicate poverty and financially empower Lagosians, the Chairman of Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI), Bashorun Alabi-Macfoy, has said the Institute is willing to partner with financially capable microfinance banks, MFBs, that have good assets and customer base to achieve total self empowerment of the poor.
Speaking to Vanguard, Alabi-Macfoy said government has set aside a huge sum of money for micro lending and this would need MFBs to facilitate it.
“For 2011, we are looking at continuation with MFBs because LASMI is looking for financially capable MFBs that have good asset and customer base, particularly those that are good at group or cooperative lending to partner with.
“To this end, we have sent out our monitoring officers to watch their activities and visit their customers to see how they are performing because these would serve as pointers for us to know how to deal with them this year. But we would mainly deal with MFBs that concentrate on group rather than individual lending because the group pressure would force all the members not to default on payment.”
Alabi-Macfoy said government, through LASMI, has been doing a lot to eradicate poverty and 250,000 people were empowered in 2010.
[b]“In 2010, we extended our activities to the taxi cab operators who needed micro_funding because they get people to buy used vehicles for them and they deliver an agreed amount daily. At the end, they are poorer and the vehicles don’t belong to them.
“Government to come up with a programme to partner with the taxi operators through the driver-owner scheme and at the same time, put new taxis on the road that would suite the mega city programme of the state government.
“We went into agreement with some commercial banks for loan facilities and First Bank gave about N350 million for the purchase of 150 taxi cabs which we paid equity contribution on. The operators were registered through the Ministry of Transport and were asked to repay the loans monthly.
We charge them 12 per cent which is far lower than the 22 per cent First Bank charged us. Also, LASMI single-handedly purchased 100 taxi cabs at the cost of N270 million and they are to repay the loan over 3 years.
“The second major project was the Agric-YES programme, which is a youth empowerment scheme in agriculture in Epe, Lagos and N500m loans have been given through the Agric-YES project. There, young school leavers and graduates are trained in farming, poultry and fishing and it is affiliated to the University of Agriculture, Israel.
“Some Israeli and Nigerian agriculturist teach them and some of the best students among the first 100 that started the programme were given scholarship to Israel for further studies.
“Government did this for them to be able to produce enough food for sale and to groom young farmers. After the training, they form themselves into cooperatives and government gives them land and loans to buy the equipment that they will need.”[/b]
Alabi-Macfoy said because the state government wants to ensure that as much people benefit from these revolving loans, LASMI intends to increase the number of beneficiaries through its partnership with MFBs.
Though the state chairman of the National Association of Microfinance Bank, Mr. Olufemi Babajide, said they have received 183 applications from MFBs that want to partner with LASMI, Alabi_Macfoy said LASMI is capable of working with as much MFBs as possible, though the institute has not received any application.
“Though we have not received any application from the state executives, but government has set aside a huge amount of money for micro lending. But we would mainly deal with MFBs that concentrate on group rather than individual lending because the group pressure would force all the members not to default on payment.
“That said, our lending process is in two stages. First, applications are made here and management would review the financials of the MFBs and make recommendations which would be passed to the Board. From there, they are sent to the Investment Committee of the Board which again reviews them and recommends those we would partner with and how much would be committed based on their financials.
“The second stage is seeking the governor’s approval for the release of fund. But we would try as much as possible to first consider those operating in rural areas.”
He urged MFBs to employ the use of biometric system of identification of customers to mitigate the occurrence of bad debts.
“The major reason for the huge bad debt they face is that they rushed into microfinancing without doing thorough customer identification and this is the cause of the bad loans. Most times, they do not go to where their customers conduct their businesses to know if they are doing what they said they do.
“Another factor is the high level of poverty in the land and the lenient collateral on MFB loans which made most people to take advantage of the situation and disappeared with their money. Even their staffs are not left out as some of them disappear with customers’ money
“So, for them to overcome the issue of bad loans, they need to instill proper corporate governance by ensuring that their staffs take their supervisory roles serious. They should also avoid the temptation of going for big offices, flashy cars and the likes.
“That is why we are looking for MFBs that concentrate on group lending because the members know each other and would urge the other person to pay up to enable them apply for another loan. For instance, the Agric-YES loans are given to groups of farmers and are insured by the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, which was set up by government.
“Despite the fact that government trains and makes money available to them, they are required to register as cooperatives and the money given to them is supervised by those who train them in the farm.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/lasmi-to-partner-financially-capable-microfinance-banks/ |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:39am On Jul 30, 2013 |
Tekunle is an island in the Lekki Lagoon. It was known as "The Place of No Return" because of the inhospital environment surrounding the island. The military governments used it as a detention camp/prison where politicians and other political prisoners were detained (some called it Nigeria's Alcatraz). The Federal Government gave the island back to the state government when military rule ended. The Tinubu Administration decided to build a rehabilitation camp for area boys, beggars, the homeless, etc on the island. This is the story of the fire on the island. The centre has since been rebuilt by the Fashola administration. mekusxxx: Print version ‘Area Boys’ Burn Rehabilitation Centre
February 17, 2010 17:16, 105 views
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The multi-million naira Lagos State Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre, Tekunle, Lagos State has been burnt by area boys taken to the centre for rehabilitation.
The centre was built by former Governor Bola Tinubu about six years ago to rehabilitate area boys and drug addicts arrested on the streets of Lagos.
Tekunle is an Island at a remote area of Lekki and has often been described as a ‘place of no return’ because of its inaccessibility.
Area boys taken to the Island, after sometime adjust to the environment and learn useful skills such as tailoring, carpentry, vulcanizing, among others for a period of nine months after which they are sent back into the society to live meaningful lives.
However, P.M.NEWS gathered that scores of area boys sent for rehabilitation went on the rampage recently and razed the centre.
Equipment bought with millions of naira and the buildings in the centre were burnt by the area boys, bringing to an end the rehabilitation programme of the Lagos State Government for social miscreants.
It could not be ascertain why the area boys went on the rampage.
P.M.NEWS gathered, however, that the trainees revolted when they were being flogged for refusing to carry out certain instruction.
Officers of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences unit, it was further learnt, saved the day as they stormed the centre and arrested scores of the area boys who carried out the act.
Chairman of the Task Force, Bayo Sulaiman, when contacted told P.M.NEWS that those arrested had been charged to the Tapa Customary Court, Lagos Island for arson.
He disclosed that the suspects were currently being remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, adding that the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Supo Sasore, was handling the case for the government.
When asked to give details on how the area boys burnt the centre, he declined, saying that our reporter should go to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development to get such information.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kamal Junaid said: “I don’t know anything about it; you can contact the Public Relations Officer or the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, could not be reached.
One of his aides who picked the call said his boss was in a meeting and that we should call later.
Since the inception of the centre, about four sets of area boys had been rehabilitated and empowered to live meaningful lives in the society.
Some of them had told stories of their wretched past and how their lives changed when they were rehabilitated at the training centre.
With the burning of the centre, it appears the laudable plan of the state government to rehabilitate the notorious area boys has been dealt a mortal blow. https://www.nairaland.com/400138/area-boys-lagos-ibadan-action |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:37am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: Some of the skills acquisition centres:
Epe Skill Acquisition Centre
Eredo Village, Adjacent to Eredo Local Council Development Office,
Epe, Ijebu Ode Road, Eredo Epe.
Tel: 08056111965
Epe Skill Acquisition Centre
Igbo - Oye Village, off Epe- Ijebu-Ode Road.
Tel: 08033538429
Ikorodu I Skill Acquisition Centre
45, Oriwu Road, Ita - Elewa, Ikorodu.
Tel: 08023417779
Kosofe Skill Acquisition Centre
9, Folashade Ajayi Street, off Adebayo Mokuolu Street, Anthony Village.
Tel: 08034721168
Lagos Island Skill Acquisition Centre
Oja Oba Model Market Complex, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island.
Tel: 08023375408
Surulere Skill Acquisition Centre
Iyun Road, Beside Police Station, off Western Avenue, Hogan Bassey, Surulere.
Tel: 01-8709118
Ejigbo Skill Acquisition Centre
Oshodi Isolo LASTMA Compound, Ejigbo Road, Ejigbo.
Tel: 08023602558
Mushin Skill Acquisition Centre
Olawoyin Street,
Off Layi Oyekanmi Palm Avenue,
Mushin
Millennium School Compound,
Karimu Laka Street,
Tel: 08023213126
Amuwo-Odofin Skill Acquisition Centre
Council Development Area
Oriade,
Ijegu
Tel: 08033486587
Shibiri Skill Acquisition Centre
Shibiri - Ekunpa Road,
Shibiri,
Ojo
Tel: 08062476097
Badagry Skill Acquisition Centre
Marina Road, Beside Divisional Libarary,
Badagry
Tel: 08023045263
Egan Skill Acquisition Centre
Egan Road, Igando Market Bus
Stop, off LASU Expressway.
Tel: 08023139747/07025292805
IBA Skill Acquisition Centre
Iba LCDA Compound,
Iba.
Tel: 08023964301
Ikor
Aga, Ikorodu.
Tel: 08023417779
Ibeju Lekki Skill Acquisition Centre
Orimedu Town,
Off Eleko Beach,
Ibeju Lekki
Women Development Centre
Oba-Akinjobi Road,
Pen Cinema Agege,
Isheri Rehabilitation/Skill Acquisition Centre
Opposite Sweet Sensation,
Isheri-Olowoira,
Ojodu, Berger. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:34am On Jul 30, 2013 |
Some even choose employment in state agencies such as LASTMA and KAI. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:34am On Jul 30, 2013 |
Those who do not choose repatriation can choose rehabilitation. That tail end of the rehabilitation process is the skills acquisition/loan process. [size=14pt] Fashola Hands Over Mushin (17th) Skills Acquisition And Vocational Centre (pics)[/size] Eko Ile: https://i56.tinypic.com/30tl4sx.jpg
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Press Releases
Fashola Hands Over Mushin Skills Acquisition And Vocational Centre
…Says 13,422 men, women have so far been trained through them
Feb 15, 2011 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday handed over the 17th Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre in the State located at Mushin, revealing that the State has so far trained about 13,422 men and women.
Governor Fashola who spoke at the official commissioning of the Mushin Skill Acquisition Centre said from Amuwo Odofin, Badagry, Egan, Egbeda and Ejigbo, through Eredo, Iba, Ibeju Leki, Igbooye, Ikorodu and Kosofe to Lagos Island, Shibiri in Ojo, Surulere and Agege, the State has continually turned out thousands of young men and women with productive skills with which they are putting food on thousands of tables and contributing to the economy of the State.
The Governor said apart from the sustained support which the State gives to the ordinary people, Government has evolved a people oriented policy of facilitating training for the young people to acquire skills and granting them access to credit to start their own businesses, Government has also created a database for them to establish their location and for them to relate with themselves through the compilation and publication of the Lagos State Business Directory which is similar to "Yellow Pages".
He said beyond all the support for ordinary people, the State has evolved a people oriented policy of patronizing the local manufacturers and entrepreneurs over the foreign producers.
He recalled that the 2010 Lagos Carnival is a clear testimony of the practice as the over 93, 000 pieces of costumes used for the carnival that could have been imported much cheaper was commissioned for local production.
He stressed that the decision to site skill acquisition centres in different parts of the state was part of the administration's resolve to encourage young people to acquire vocational skills and create an avenue to make money and sustain themselves.
Governor Fashola expressed his worry at the recent policy shift by the Federal Government which allows importation of furniture, toothpick, textiles and vehicles of 15 years into the country.
He described the step as an economic tragedy for the nation which is not defensible and called for its reversal.
Governor Fashola stressed that the frenzy of importation has killed the local economy leading to high rate of unemployment and noting that smuggling could be tamed by well structured security mechanisms rather than throwing the flood gates open of goods to all sorts.
"This policy decision is not the answer to the problem of smuggling. The answer to the problem of smuggling lies rather in a methodical and multi-dimensional response. It includes the strengthening of the Customs through technology such as scanners, to improving the local productive capacity of our people and reducing dependence on imports and its attraction", he added.
He said if the Federal Government reverses the policy on importation and concentrate on stimulating the growth of the local industry through accelerated electricity supply, "our freight forwarders, our customs and our ports will become busier from a positive reversal of fortunes that is driven by an export oriented economy rather than an import driven economy".
He urged the people to vote massively for all the candidates of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Lagos because it is the only party that can deliver the goods which is very visible for everyone to see.
He urged the people of Lagos State not to give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) any chance to rule in any part of the country anymore, adding that it is a party that is rebranding on a vision that is giving Nigerians insecurity and inflicting a nightmare on the people.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the location of the centre in Mushin is informed by the administration's policy of tackling poverty and women empowerment at the grassroots.
She said the numerous skill acquisition programmes of the Ministry has offered diverse opportunities to all classes of Lagosians to learn various vocations after which they are provided with needed capital and conducive environment to start practicing their trade.
Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said that so far, over 60,000 grassroots women and youths have been trained in year 2010 alone through the Acquisition centres.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr Babatunde Adepitan said the construction of the Skills Acquisition Centre in Mushin at that particular spot is another miracle of the century which could be better compared to what happened at Oshodi.
He said as a responsible Government the Council received the gift with both hands and has complimented the efforts of the State by immediately constructing all the roads leading to the centre.
In a message of solidarity Commissioner for Environment, Dr Muiz Banire who is also an indigene of the area commended Governor Babatunde Fashola and his team for a job well done in transforming Lagos State.
He said the site of the project was hitherto a major security risk for the residents of the area just as it also constituted an environmental disaster spot, saying through the resourcefulness of the present administration, it has been transformed.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, members of the State Executive Council, members of the National Assembly and State Assembly representing Mushin and political leaders as well as enthusiastic residents of the area who trooped out to receive the Governor witness the event. https://www.nairaland.com/606262/fashola-hands-over-mushin-17thhttp://www.nairaland.com/606262/fashola-hands-over-mushin-17th |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:30am On Jul 30, 2013 |
thegoodjoehunt: There is massive unemployment in Nigeria. So how will there not be hawkers. These are people self employing themselves to feed. Until unemployment is tackled and taken as a national obligation, hawkers should b left alone. They want to sweep their incompetence under the carpet. Precisely why I said you don't know about this policy. Thank you for introducing the next part of my post. How is unemployment tackled? (Remember, it's all based on choice). |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:25am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: [size=14pt]Background and context [/size]
Unfortunately, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice website has not been the same since it was attacked by hackers early this year. I was going to repost the environmental sanitation act.
Environmental sanitation law has always been controversial in Lagos. People always complain about the state of the environment, but they complain even more when government takes steps to remedy the situation.
Back in the 1980s people often quoted the report that stated that Lagos was the dirtiest city in the world. Foreign news stations often showed pictures of Oshodi, kids hawking in traffic (dodging cars, etc), heaps of refuse on road median, etc. The people often complain about the presence of lunatics who wander the streets aimlessly.
Government response to these problems have included:
1) Colonial governments deploying health inspectors (the infamous "Wole Wole" ) to ensure that houses, markets, etc were kept clean. The people hated these health inspectors and accused them of bribery (I remember comedy sketches which depicted health inspectors stealing meat from people's pots in the guise of ensuring that the food was suitable for consumption).
2) Military governments deploying soldiers, policemen and other officials (environmental offences task force) to chase away beggars, street traders and other offenders. It was seen as a futile effort, because the traders and beggars would return to the same spot hours later. The law was amended to include the forfeiture of goods seized during such raids and imprisonment of offenders. The task force would seize the goods and burn them. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang
The time around 1975 and '77, police go seize expensive goods dem go start to burn burn them. Army go go market, anything cost money go burn burn dem (2x).
Why dem like to burn the things wey dey costee money? Government fit sell to people cheape cheape. Government fit dash people wey no get money.
And the burn burn na im dey sweet dem pass (burn and bribe). Na im dey sweet them pass. Oya oh, burn burn. (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, "Confusion Break Bone", c1980)
The people were sympathetic towards the traders and beggars and believed that the task force was cruel and inhuman. The public felt that these people were only trying to earn a living and their presence on the streets was a result of the economic decline caused by the government. It was also felt that sentencing these people to jail would mean sending them to a training centre where they would learn how to become hardened criminals (besides, the prisons were already over crowded. How many prisons would be built to accomodate the vast army of beggars and street traders?).
3) The return to civilian rule in 1999 ushered in a wave of ammendments to the law. The year 2000 amendment created the Kick Against Indiscipline Corps (basically, the environment police) and made the public-private system the only legal means of disposing waste in Lagos. It became illegal to patronise cart pushers and residents were given bin bags for free. Several markets were also closed because the market men and women engaged in street trading and improper means of disposing refuse.
The 2003 amendment presented offenders with 3 choices, rehabilitation, repatriation or jail.
This amendment was made because the government realised that the prison system was over crowded and thus it would not make sense to keep sending people who break the environmental sanitation laws to jail.
Sending them to jail also created bad publicity for the government. Offenders would often be more hardened and a greater danger to the society when they were released than when they were sent to jail. It was therefore decided that jail term would be a last resort.
Offenders would be given a second chance at life via the rehabilitation process. They could also choose to return to their home state via the repatriation process (some realised that it's better to farm in their home state, than to sleep on the streets of Lagos). Their home state government or relatives would be informed ahead of time, so that they can take steps to rehabilitate the returnees. For example, in the documentary I watched, the Kano State Government gave returnees some money to ease the process of resettlement.
Indeed, it was discovered that gangs of criminals act as agents, ferrying people from their home states to Lagos for a fee, promising them jobs when they get to Lagos and subsequently dumping them on the streets of Lagos. These gangs are particularly active in Kano State and Niger Republic. The City of Kano used to be the great economic centre of the sahel region of Africa. People came from far and wide to work in the factories in Kano City. However, chronic electricity cuts have led to the closure of many factories. Criminal gangs promise to help these people get jobs as security guards, okada riders, etc in Lagos in exchange for a fee and dump the people on the streets of Lagos.
In contrast, the rehabilitation and repatriation process would change the lives of offenders and enable them to become respectable and independent citizens.
Further amendments to the law since 2007 (Fashola administration) have made it illegal to give alms to beggars. Citizens are expected to channel such donations to registered charities, orphanages, destitute's homes, churches, mosques and other such institutions. It also provided the option of community service for people who break the law.
It should be noted that, under the law as it was before the 2003 amendment, the people who are currently being returned, would have been sent to jail.
Finally, it's a pity that the author of the article that the OP republished did such a shoddy job. He should have interviewed the returnees and then interviewed Lagos State Government officials. This would enable the public to know whether the scheme is still being implemented the way it was conceived, or whether it has derailed (the rehabilitation process suffered a setback when the Ita-Oko centre was burnt by inmates. Please ignore the bigotry in the link https://www.nairaland.com/400138/area-boys-lagos-ibadan-action ). Rather than doing this, the author wrote a sensational piece (probably to maximise sales/views) that made it seem like the returnees were forcibly deported and that they were returned simply because of their state of origin. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:22am On Jul 30, 2013 |
thegoodjoehunt: What is your point? Are you saying other regions like Yaba didn't benefit from Lagos City being capital? Not in any special way, no. The areas that were not part of the Federal Capital simply got some federal projects sited there just like any other part of Nigeria. By the way, are you aware that the Federal Government, which runs Abuja, also practices repatriation? |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:19am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: Skills Acquisition Centers. The Lagos State Skills Acquisition Centers are set up for people who do not have jobs, to enable them to learn skills that will enable them earn a living. Any unemployed person can attend the skills acquisition centres, but there is also a special set of people who are sent to the centres by the government after being screened. These set of people are the area boys, homeless, street traders, beggars, etc.
Below is the process for the special class of attendees:
[size=14pt]The Process[/size]
1)The environmental laws of Lagos State (laws against street trading, begging, etc) have been in place at least since the 1970s (probably earlier). They've been reviewed quite a number of times (Akhigbe, Rasaki, Tinubu).
2) The process was fully established by the Tinubu Administration.
3) Beggars, street traders, destitutes, area boys, psychotics, etc are arrested by the Task Force on Environmental Offences.
4) They are given a choice: (a) go to prison (b) go to rehabilitation centre (c) return to your state of origin.
A) The law stipulates punishment for those who commit these offences. They include prison term, fine, forfeiture of goods.
B) Rehabilitation centres were set up (the most famous/infamous was at Ita-Oko Island). At the centres the inmates are sorted. They are tested for drugs. Those who are drug addicts are detoxified. Those who have mental illnesses are sent to the asylum. The inmates (apart from the lunatics) are then taught skills (skills acquisition centre) so that they'll be able to earn a living. When they complete the course, they are given a loan with which they will start a business and made to sign an undertaking that they will not return to the streets.
C) Return: Those who choose to return are transported to their state of origin. The state government is usually informed ahead of time (although I know of 3 instances in which their state governments claimed that they were not informed) so that they can make arrangements to cater for the people. Most of the people who have chosen to return are from the northern part of the country (note: they chose to return). |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:19am On Jul 30, 2013 |
thegoodjoehunt: How will a mentally ill man make a choice or find his way at 3:00 am in a strange place? How will homeless people find their ways in a differnet state? If that isn't punishment, what is? Mentally ill people are sent to the psychiatric hospital. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:15am On Jul 30, 2013 |
thegoodjoehunt: He should exclude that repatriation/deportation. They are Nigerians. Maybe Americans and British should star repartriting defaulters in their country in America who are Americans. 1) There is NO DEPORTATION! 2) Why should he exclude repatriation? If people choose to go back to their families because they discover that Lagos is not what they thought it would be, why shouldn't the government assist them? Well, you may not like it, but the government has the right to assist such people. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:10am On Jul 30, 2013 |
thegoodjoehunt: In America, the sharing of resources is not the same. In Nigeria, a lot of kids stand no chance. They are robbed and some gain from their robbery. These so called destitutes are Nigerians. Gov. Fashola scored low points here. He is too wrong to feel his country men should be deported in their own country. This clearly shows that you don't know what the process is about. I might need to copy most of my posts to this thread. The whole point of this scheme is to help the destitutes, but you are making it seem like it's some sort of punishment. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:08am On Jul 30, 2013 |
Prof Corruption: But part of present day Lagos State was the seat of Federal Government. Of course Jakande was Lagos Governor when Shagari was ruling Nigeria from 1979-83. The capital of Nigeria was The City of Lagos. Do you know what The City of Lagos is? It basically comprised of Lagos Island, Ikoyi Island, Victoria Island, Apapa, Yaba and Surulere. That's all! In fact, Yaba and Surulere were not considered as part of the city but as city suburbs. It was The City of Lagos that was capital until 1991, not Lagos State. The other parts of Lagos State were part of The Western Region until 1967. The City of Lagos was governed by Lagos City Council up until the late 1970s when more local governments were created. Ikeja, Palm Grove, etc were never governed by Lagos City Council. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:03am On Jul 30, 2013 |
Once again, people keep talking about forced "deportation". Nobody was "deported". People who are arrested for violating the environmental laws are given a choice. There are many who choose to go to the rehabilitation centres. Some choose to provide community services. While some choose repatriation.
Nobody has been "deported". |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 2:00am On Jul 30, 2013 |
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| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:58am On Jul 30, 2013 |
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| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:58am On Jul 30, 2013 |
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| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:56am On Jul 30, 2013 |
naptu2: LAGOS IN THE 1800s
During the 1850s there was a large influx into Lagos of educated Africans, who had earlier been sold as slaves, from Sierra Leone, Brazil and Cuba. Their return profoundly affected the history of Lagos. The Sierra Leonians were known as Akus or Saros, the Brazilians and Cubans as Agudas. The Agudas were mainly Catholics, skilled artisans and craftmen who had purchased their freedom and returned home to their “country” of origin. The Akus or Saros were slaves (or descendants of slaves) rescued by the British naval squadron that patrolled the high seas on the look-out for slavers. The Saro émigrés were mainly missionaries (Protestants), teachers, clerks, or traders. All of the returned émigrés had their homes in one of the hinterland kingdoms – Ijebu, Egba, Ekiti, Oyo-Ibadan, Nupe. Most were probably shipped from Lagos, but none seemed to have been Lagosians.
The composition of populations in Lagos in the 1880s was as follows: Brazilians 3,220, Sierra Leonians 1,533 and Europeans 111, out of a population of 37,458. of all the population 30 ½ per cent (11,049) were engaged in commerce as merchants, traders, agents, clerks and shopmen, 5,173 were tradesmen, mechanics, manufacturers and artisans; 1,414 were farmers and agricultural labourers. In 1871 only 9 2/3 per cent of the population were in commerce, 5 per cent in agriculture. In 1881 the percentage of agricultural workers dropped to 3 ¾ while that of commercial workers jumped to 30 ½. Lagos was therefore predominantly a commercial city. Most of the population was animist in 1868, 14,797 as opposed to 8,422 Muslims and 3,970 Christians.
In the 1880s there were four distinct groups in Lagos – the Europeans, the educated Africans (Saros), the Brazilians and the indigenes. The town was physically divided into four quarters corresponding to these groups. The Europeans lived on the Marina, the Saros mainly west of the Europeans in an area called Olowogbowo, the Brazilians behind the Europeans – their quarter was known as Portuguese Town or Popo Aguda or Popo Maro – and the indigenes on the rest of the island – behind all three.
The Saros were culturally closer to the Europeans than to either of the other two groups. The top social class of Lagos of the 1880s was dominated by the Europeans – merchants, missionaries, civil servants. The Saros tried to gain admission into this class. The criteria for membership were education and wealth. In this sense, the educated elite, both black and white, could be considered as members of the same social group. They lived like Victorian gentlemen, entertainment consisting of numerous ‘conversaziones’, ‘soirees’, ‘levees’, ‘at homes’, ‘tea fights’ and concerts of the works of Bach, Beethoven, Handel and so on. The press had music critics; one irate critic lamented that concerts had fallen to the level of music-hall entertainment. Christmas was a season of Victorian festivities. As one newspaper editor enthused “Balls are announced and concerts and athletic sports, dinners, with the accessories of plump turkeys, minced pies, plum puddings and Christmas trees. Fineries of all sorts and conditions. All the elite seemed to lack was snow. Their dressing and eating habits were predictably Victorian. Most of them were profuse in their loyalty to the queen. In 1881 the Lagos Times prayed for the success of British arms in Ashanti. It declared: “we are so jealous of the Power of British arms that we would not have it suffer the slightest reverse.” The Imperial Federation League found enthusiastic support in Lagos. Several prominent Saros, J.A.O Payne, J.J Thomas and S.J. George came to Britain for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1887 at their own expense.
Life styles among the indigenes continued as before. They ate the normal Yoruba dishes of maize, cassava, yams and Yoruba sauces. They dressed in the same large flowing cloak, called Agbada, and baggy trousers. The Saro educated elite wore the lates London fashions – stiff collars and heavy woolen suits. The traditional elite continued to dress as they had always done but had developed new drinking habits. An observer described Dosunmu as “a good tempered, easy going man, much given to pomp …(he) possessed a hundred wives and innumerable suits of apparel. Visitors are always regaled with Champagne whenever they go to see him and I have heard he kept a most luxurious table.” Whitford wrote that when he met Dosunmu, the Oba was “attired in a clean loose white rob; red silk velvet slippers encase his large feet and gold, silver and brass rings profusely adorn his thumbs, fingers and wrists.”
The press exhibited a deep preoccupation with what it regarded as the essentials of society. The editor of the Eagle and Lagos Critic, Mr E.O Macaulay, writing in 1883, described the society of a place as that class of its community which comprised its ruling body, which absorbed by its influence all other ‘societies’ (he found four in Lagos – the Muslims, the Brazilians, the indigenous and the English, which of course, included the Saros) into its unit and imposed its rules of conduct on the other ‘societies’. To despise the society of the ruling class, Macaulay said, was to commit social suicide. He held that Sir John Glover, governor of the colony, 1866 – 72, understood this and therefore had given Lagos ‘society’ some directions. Glover collected at Government House the most prominent, intelligent and promising of the inhabitants of Lagos whom he created into a society, i.e. “a union in one general interest, social sympathy, companionship”. This society had “name and influence above any other, men and women aspired to become members of it and its doors were open to all who proved themselves (worthy)”. After Glover’s departure, this society was left by successive governors to go ‘moribund’. In 1883, Macaulay continued, it “was almost at death’s doors. With the cord of society thus broken, the various groups considered themselves to be of common social level; a new social egalitarianism developed, each group evolving its own code of rules. The divisions increased fear and suspicion and forced each group to seek strength in unity: it was this that brought tribal sentiments and the formation of tribal associations. Suspicions increased; jealousy, ill-will and rancour followed, judgment perverted and man ceased to be estimated by his intrinsic worth”. Every entertainment that was directed from Government House was seen as “an amelioration of the sad condition of society” in the 1880s. in 1884 the press called for the governor to resume his position as “Social Head” of Lagos.
The governors themselves testified to the high level of civilised society in Lagos. Governor Young in 1885 said Lagos was his first contact with civilisation since he left England. The administrators of Lagos found it impossible to keep up the high level of social entertainment Lagos demanded. And requests for increase in table allowances and salaries were frequent. Griffith described Lagos as “the Queen of West African settlements”. He went on: “ no single settlement on the West coast can compare with Lagos in public expenditure, in imports, and exports, in population or in activity, enterprise, and wealth of her mercantile community…Her merchants are unbounded in their hospitality. They entertain liberally and place the choicest and most expensive services on their tables. Even the natives will offer champagne to visitors…they keep open house and everywhere a cordial welcome awaits a stranger.” Griffith asked for horses and a carriage because both the white and black merchants had them. The Colonial Office, in one of those priceless minutes, thought mules and a carriage would suit the deputy governor best.
"Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos" by Patrick Dele Cole, King's College Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1975 at p 45 - 47. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:55am On Jul 30, 2013 |
I also need to correct a very common mistake, Lagos State was never the capital of Nigeria. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:43am On Jul 30, 2013 |
The truth is that Lagos had a developed society and amenities even before 1900 (when the Southern Protectorate was created). Lagosians did not ask that Lagos should be made the capital of Nigeria and oil money almost ruined Lagos. Most of the structures that were built by the Federal Government are now relics and are being overshadowed by structures that were built by the Lagos State Government and private interests (national stadium, national theatre, etc). |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 1:37am On Jul 30, 2013 |
bittyend: Read carefully:
I said: LEAVE that GOD FORSAKEN SHYTEHOLE.
What's the correlation between 'LEAVE' and 'GOD FORSAKEN SHYTEHOLE', and Niger Delta?
Care to explain? It's a red herring. An attempt to change the subject. |
| Politics › Re: Lagos Didnt Deport Beggars, Only Reunited Them With Their Families by naptu2: 12:47am On Jul 30, 2013 |
The reason why nobody has been able to sue is simply because nobody has been deported.
People who violate environmental sanitation laws are given 4 options (previously they were given 3 options).
1) Go to a rehabilitation centre
2) Go to jail.
3) Repatriation/re-integration
4) Community service.
Basically, they make a choice.
Furthermore, it is not only non-lagosians that are given the choice of re-integration. If the arrested person is from Lagos, the ministry will search for the person's relatives and reunite him with his family.
The goal is to ensure that the person has no reason to commit the offence again.
Think about it, it would be a waste of resources to simply round up people and expel them, because they will simply get on the next bus to Lagos.
Note: the process is well documented. |
| Crime › Re: Aswad Ayinde Arrested For Molesting His Daughters. by naptu2: 5:08pm On Jul 29, 2013 |
1stCitizen: His real name is NOT Eric McGill. It is Charles McGill Charles Eric McGill. |
| Politics › Re: Fashola Provides Skill Training For Hawkers by naptu2: 5:05pm On Jul 29, 2013 |
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| Politics › Re: Fashola Gives 22-yr-old Vulcaniser N100,000 by naptu2: 5:00pm On Jul 29, 2013 |
berem: Time to run to Alausa nakked to collect my own 100k! 
Eko oni baje o!  tchidi: if a naked man can get 100k, na im be say i don hammer!!
*takes off cloth and runs into the road* Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha |
