A LOT of dust has been raised by the
decision of the Lagos State Government (LASG) to remove indigent Nigerians from
the streets of the economic capital of the nation and repatriate them to their
perceived states of origin.
Executed by the Kick Against
Indiscipline (KAI) department of the state government, several trips have been
undertaken, ferrying beggars and the homeless to various parts of the country.
The LASG argues that it is part of
preparing the Lagos metropolis as a modern mega-city able to attract tourists
and genuine business interests from all over the world.
Indeed, the mega-city project of the
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola regime started shortly after he assumed office
in June 2007 with the radical cleaning up of Oshodi, hitherto notorious for its
clutter and criminality.
It was followed up with the beautification
and greening of many erstwhile dirty and dark spots all over the state and thus
giving the city a great facelift.
However, the forcible removal of
Nigerian citizens from Lagos and their forced relocation to regions of ethnic
origin touches on the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to live or
settle in any part of the country freely and without molestation.
It is one of the fundamental human
rights fully guaranteed in Chapters III and IV of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
The same Constitution and our various
extant laws clearly spell out lawful steps that should be taken when citizens
engage in undesirable or unlawful acts.
We are calling on the Lagos State
Government and any other political authority in the country faced with the
challenges of influx of destitute and mendicant Nigerians and foreigners to
follow strictly the laws of the land and also employ skillful dialogue and
diplomacy at the political level in confronting them.
The task of building a modern city
out of Lagos is not only for the Lagos State Government. It is a collective
responsibility of all citizens and residents. The government and residents must
work together towards that common purpose, with the government taking the lead
and residents offering full support.
There is no laudable policy that
cannot be implemented, no matter how painful it may initially seem
to the populace or sections thereof, provided that maturity and
statesmanship are brought to bear.
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