The Lagos state government in Nigeria has banned street begging and has formed a special team to stop the “menace”, local media report.
The team is expected to begin operations in the next few days.
A state official in charge of youth and social development told journalists that beggars on the streets were a nuisance to law-abiding citizens.
Olusegun Dawodu said beggars and hawkers, who included children, were being transported from other parts of the country to the city.
Begging
He said the begging business was demeaning and an abuse to humanity, especially the children who were being forced into it.
He added that some of the beggars and hawkers were linked to crime in the city – by assaulting and robbing city residents.
“The activities of these people in our streets impede human movement and vehicular traffic, constitute environmental nuisance and security threats,” Mr Dawodu is quoted by local media as saying.
The move came days after the police raised the alarm over criminals disguising themselves as beggars and attacking Lagos residents.
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Private company to replace Nigeria’s state oil firm
Nigeria’s state-owned oil company is to be disbanded under a new law which came into effect on Tuesday.
The government said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation would be replaced by an independent company.
President Muhammadu Buhari said the Petroleum Industry Law, which was nearly 20 years in the making, marked the end of decades of uncertainty and under-investment in the energy sector.
He said Nigeria had been running an oil industry governed by obsolete laws enacted more than 50 years ago.
The new legislation amalgamates about 16 previous laws and overhauls nearly every aspect of energy production.
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Source: BBC
