Street begging in Ibadan..... What else can we do

Beggars really do not see themselves as beggars but rather perceive themselves as normal human beings going about their daily activities. This is the source of the problem.

Source
It is an ancient profession and a known means of livelihood however it is becoming annoying and causing nuisance especially in our environment.

The problem is really not about the begging but the mindset of the beggars. they feel they are underprivileged compared to other citizens and subsequently feel entitled to receive help from others.

Giving and receiving is the design of nature and I do not believe someone should always want to receive without giving anything in return or not working to receive.

Personally, I think majority of the beggars are actually greedy and selfish.
How and why will you expect me to wake up early, go to work, sweat and earn some money in exchange for my services then to come back and give you for reasons best known to you.

The Crippled beggars

Source

These people probably have a reason for choosing to be a beggar. It sounds logical and this is the reason we are used to and such was even recorded in the Bible.

The blind can be excused for not having Vision. the lame might be excused for not being able to walk etc. but still it is not common and very unlikely to have multiple deformity and one can still do something meaningful and skillful with the functional part of the body.

All I'm saying is even a cripple can be productive rather than depending on begging.

The healthy beggars

Source
What do we say of these people. I dislike their behavior with passion because I really do not understand the rationale behind begging if you are not physically challenged. how and why in this world filled with all possible available jobs for sustenance will you think begging is the only option for you to make a living??, that is the poorest mindset one can have.

This plague is on the rise and becoming a norm especially in my own environment in Ibadan Nigeria.

Bulk of those people were actually brought in from neighboring countries like Niger and some northern part of Nigeria. You will see parents sitting at the middle of the road at major busy locations and junctions with their children in their numbers.

They'll ask the children to go and beg and bring money to them in broad daylight. They will eat, sleep and raise their children on the same spot every day for years under the harsh conditions of our weather.

What pisses me off the most is that they continue to give birth to more children under the same circumstances. You will see them in different sizes and categories both male and female.

Those children will run to you once they site you holding money. It is commoner when you alight from a bike or a cab.

Source

They will nearly snatch the money off your hand without your permission if you are not vigilant enough. In fact, if you do not give them at times, they will abuse you in your presence and run away.

One will be deceiving him or herself to think these people are doing this because they are poor. you've got to see them when they are counting their money at the end of each day's work and you'll be shocked how much they realise daily. They perceive it as a profession and as a normal life.

They think about it as the easiest way to survive and make a living

Not all beggers are real. some do disguise with another motive and we've heard stories of ritualist using beggers to get money for their ritual purposes

Can begging be eradicated

Eradicating the culture is not likely at least not anytime soon. Here in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria, these people are actually everywhere and it's becoming annoying.

There was a time the present administration built a facility for them with the aim of accommodating, orientating and empowering them.

A view of the resettlement facility

They were successful at convincing them and moving them to the facility and believe me I was personally happy when I noticed the development.

It was however surprising to see them back on the street after about 2 weeks. Guess why they came back to the streets... they claim to feel jobless and that the money they realise on the street worth much more than the empowerment the government has in plan for them.

They even once protested against low patronage and that was the peak for me.

Beggars protesting against low patronage in Ibadan
They actually have an organisation and leaders who represent them and they also hold meetings like other professions and this makes it more interesting.

They practically litter everywhere they go and the become a burden to the community.

How I usually deal with them

Personally I don't give them my money not because I don't have what to give but because of their stupid and selfish entitlement ideology.

I will rather buy something from a crippled fellow and pay him or her much more than the worth of the goods or service rendered than give my money to a healthy whole human being who thinks he/she is smarter by begging from people than to work and earn something for a living.

I believe reducing the burden is not solitarily government's responsibility. Different individual and organizational efforts and strategies will help to.

Have you thought of a good strategy that can help solve this problem?

One thing I'm sure of is that if we continue to dance to their tune and encourage them further by giving them money, especially the healthy ones, eradicating this practice will be impossible.