THE WORLD OF HOMELESS NIGERIANS LIVING ON BAR BEACH

Pastor Olaitan with his collapsible home
at the Bar Beach

Shelter and food which Abraham Maslow’s theory on hierarchy of needs put as basic necessities of man are no longer obtainable in our environment as many Nigerians lack these basic needs.

A visit to the bar beach, which was known for his throng in the 80’s and 90’s but now a shadow of itself due to re-current overflow of its shores, reveals the presence of many homeless people who live under tarpaulin and old big umbrellas.

A person may be tempted to think that they came from elsewhere, but a chat with them revealed that they were displaced from a nearby community in 2008 when government demolished their houses and places of worship.

Though the number of people living on the beach after demolition has reduced due to constant arrest and prosecution at mobile courts of Lagos State Tax Force on Environmental Sanitation, yet there are over two hundred.

It is disheartening that some live under umbrella and tarpaulin with their children who attend schools at Bonny camp and other barracks. They get water from the school of oceanography which is within the area.

Living close to the ocean and under harsh weather will definitely expose them to certain illnesses, but they don’t have access to any health care facility neither could they afford to go for treatment in the nearby private hospitals in Victoria Island.

Considering the state of living of the displaced people on the beach, it will be good for government, individuals and Non-governmental Organizations to provide assistance for the people. Government can help to provide accommodation for them while individuals can provide prepared food and other essential materials on regular basis.

If you are interested in assisting the displaced people living on the beach, you can contact Slumdweller Liberation Forum (SLF) c/o Slumdweller De Great Agbodemu on 08077565466, 08026754374, 08096324693 or slumdwelleragbodemu@gmail.com

FIWON PROPOSED A BILL ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Comrade Gbenga Komolafe
Executive Secretary FIWON

The Nigeria Social Assistance Bill as proposed by the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON) has been sent to the National Assembly for consideration and enactment into law.

The bill when passed into law is meant to provide a system of welfare assistance including free health care and payment of welfare grants to indigent senior citizens, disabled citizens and indigent pregnant women and thereby achieving a minimum standard of living.

As identified by FIWON, the bill will be an effective tool to reduce poverty, destitution and vulnerability suffered by the disabled, the aged and indigent pregnant women, thereby assisting in human capital development.

While speaking on the Nigeria Social Assistance Bill, the Executive Secretary of FIWON, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe said the major goal of the bill is to produce social assistance for vulnerable persons. He stated further that the bill will be beneficial to the society at large and not only to the old aged, disabled and pregnant women.

In response to the proposed bill, the National Assembly through the office of the President said that the bill will be studied and forwarded to the appropriate committee for further actions.

Hopefully, when the bill is enacted into law, Nigeria can join the Comity of Nations where citizens are ensured of living quality lifestyles irrespective of social or physical challenges.