Lagos won't stop evacuation of beggars until our roads are safe – Speaker

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has said the exercise to rid the state of destitute persons and security threats will continue.

Ikuforiji made this statement on Saturday in reaction to the criticisms by the Anambra State Government, over the 'deportation' of some destitute, said to be its indigenes, from Lagos State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji said, "Nobody talked about deportation when Kano, Ogun and other states' indigenes were removed and taken back to their states. The Governor has the right to call for the removal of people who are of security risk to the state.

"Recently, the Rivers State
Government sent back some
Lagosians to Lagos and the
state government accepted the
decision. We did not complain
to the Federal Government or
twist the issue in order to
attract public sympathy as is
being done by the Anambra
State Government."

He blamed the Anambra State
Government for politicising the
matter. The speaker added that
the destitute persons were
security threats as they had no
legitimate means of livelihood
or known address.

He said, "Those who were taken back to their states are destitute and the exercise will continue until our roads are safe. They have no genuine means of livelihood and no known address.

"They are considered as an illegitimate burden and a serious security challenge to the state. It is not the responsibility of Lagos State to cater for indigenes of other states who are engaged in illegal livelihood.

"I don't think it is right to allow destitute to constitute a menace to our society. However, the claim by some that destitute were ill-fed and tortured while in our custody, before they were sent back to their states is false."