naptu2: There's something missing in the article above & that's the voice of the people that were returned (note: returned, not deported). It also seems that people do not know the details of the Lagos State policy. Nobody is deported (that would be unconstitutional), rather, people are returned (which is constitutional and within the laws of Lagos State).

I'll be back with a description of the process that leads to someone being returned.

Freiburger: Why is this topic termed refugees? Are they seeking for asylum in Lagos?

violent: [size=13pt]Chapter IV :Fundamental Rights[/size]

---

41. (1) Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society-

(a) imposing restrictions on the residence or movement of any person who has committed or is reasonably suspected to have committed a criminal
offence in order to prevent him from leaving Nigeria; or

(b) providing for the removal of any person from Nigeria to any other country to:-
(i) be tried outside Nigeria for any criminal offence, or
(ii) undergo imprisonment outside Nigeria in execution of the sentence of a court of law in respect of a criminal offence of which he has
been found guilty: Provided that there is reciprocal agreement between Nigeria and such other country in relation to such matter.


42. (1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action
of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex,
religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative
action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex,
religions or political opinions.

afam4eva: How on earth do people get deported inside their own country. Aren't citizens of this country permitted to live and move in any part of the country they so pls? I think this action is unconstitutional and Fashola and the Lagos should be called to order.

naptu2: I'm going to recount from memory because I'm on the move at the moment, but I'll try to get articles, etc when I get to a place of rest. The sources for my memory are newspaper articles, documentaries of Lagos Television, news reports and even nairaland.

[size=14pt]The Process[/size]

1)The environmental laws of Lagos State (laws against street trading, begging, etc) have been in place at least since the 1970s (probably earlier). They've been reviewed quite a number of times (Akhigbe, Rasaki, Tinubu).

2) The process was fully established by the Tinubu Administration.

3) Beggars, street traders, destitutes, area boys, psychotics, etc are arrested by the Task Force on Environmental Offences.

4) They are given a choice: (a) go to prison (b) go to rehabilitation centre (c) return to your state of origin.

A) The law stipulates punishment for those who commit these offences. They include prison term, fine, forfeiture of goods.

B) Rehabilitation centres were set up (the most famous/infamous was at Ita-Oko Island). At the centres the inmates are sorted. They are tested for drugs. Those who are drug addicts are detoxified. Those who have mental illnesses are sent to the asylum. The inmates (apart from the lunatics) are then taught skills (skills acquisition centre) so that they'll be able to earn a living. When they complete the course, they are given a loan with which they will start a business and made to sign an undertaking that they will not return to the streets.

C) Return: Those who choose to return are transported to their state of origin. The state government is usually informed ahead of time (although I know of 3 instances in which their state governments claimed that they were not informed) so that they can make arrangements to cater for the people. Most of the people who have chosen to return are from the northern part of the country (note: they chose to return).

Dudu_Negro:

Naptu, ive been looking for you to say great job on some of your posts on State House, Marina and DB. I believe the only military establishment that had any respectable measure of perimeter security in Lagos was the old Ministry of Defense building on Marina....the street blocks around it were locked down 24hrs. When it relocated to independence bldng in Odan security was fairly relaxed. Anyway, great job on your coversge.

cantell: If this was a legal act, surely the northerners would have deported the Igbos & non igbos from the north.
But instead, they choose to live with them regardless of their differences.
Personally, i think there's more to this story.

The word "refugees" got your attention right?
Thats the idea.

Dudu_Negro: Saintneo,

The people living in Lagos State have a civic responsibility to the state. This action by Lagos State is supported by the customary laws and those laws recognize and identify citizenship strictly by ward and ancestry. The constitution of Nigeria further recognize and empower those customary laws as the basis of indigeneity for any member state in the sovereingty. If you suppress the customary laws in favor of the Constitution then you must also dissolve the traditional Chiefs and fire the Obas and the title holders.....basically erode the culture.

If you do it for Lagos, you must do it for all other states. If the other states must keep their customary laws intact, then so must Lagos.

On the substance of the matter itself, who are these people and why were they deported?

On the lagality, Lagos State, by this action, has not acted in counter to any provision or statutes of Constitution and is therefore not in violation of the right of citizenship clause.

ayo jango: .


You visited shops and markets n felt dt because ur pple control d place they control d economomy. Go visit d ministries,banks,oil companies then come tell us d pple who r ther.

afam4eva: How on earth do people get deported inside their own country. Aren't citizens of this country permitted to live and move in any part of the country they so pls? I think this action is unconstitutional and Fashola and the Lagos should be called to order.

naptu2: I'm going to recount from memory because I'm on the move at the moment, but I'll try to get articles, etc when I get to a place of rest. The sources for my memory are newspaper articles, documentaries of Lagos Television, news reports and even nairaland.

[size=14pt]The Process[/size]

1)The environmental laws of Lagos State (laws against street trading, begging, etc) have been in place at least since the 1970s (probably earlier). They've been reviewed quite a number of times (Akhigbe, Rasaki, Tinubu).

2) The process was fully established by the Tinubu Administration.

3) Beggars, street traders, destitutes, area boys, psychotics, etc are arrested by the Task Force on Environmental Offences.

4) They are given a choice: (a) go to prison (b) go to rehabilitation centre (c) return to your state of origin.

A) The law stipulates punishment for those who commit these offences. They include prison term, fine, forfeiture of goods.

B) Rehabilitation centres were set up (the most famous/infamous was at Ita-Oko Island). At the centres the inmates are sorted. They are tested for drugs. Those who are drug addicts are detoxified. Those who have mental illnesses are sent to the asylum. The inmates (apart from the lunatics) are then taught skills (skills acquisition centre) so that they'll be able to earn a living. When they complete the course, they are given a loan with which they will start a business and made to sign an undertaking that they will not return to the streets.

C) Return: Those who choose to return are transported to their state of origin. The state government is usually informed ahead of time (although I know of 3 instances in which their state governments claimed that they were not informed) so that they can make arrangements to cater for the people. Most of the people who have chosen to return are from the northern part of the country (note: they chose to return).

saintneo: why do I see the same person in Eko Atlantic and Ji_sun_pack

Dudu_Negro:

Thanks naptu.

On behalf of Lagos State Im asking that Anambra reimburse the cost of training per head of these refugees and as well the transportation cost. Did they get a hair cut before leaving Lagos? They will pay for that as well.

[size=14pt]Press Releases



Feb 1, 2005 - LASG Completes N110 Million Ita-Oko Rehabilitation Centre[/size]

As part of efforts to offer comprehensive rehabilitation for social miscreants and youths in the state, the Lagos State Government has completed works on the Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre located at Tekunle Island (Ita Oko) near Ise along the Lekki Peninsula.


The 4200 square metre centre, has facilities for training residents in fabrication, carpentry weaving, an agriculture component (involving snailry, poultry and fish production), detoxification centre, clinic, and residence for 200 along with a staff quarter and helipad.


Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who along with his cabinet visited the centre yesterday noted that by the second quarter of the year it would have become operational once the new tools had been fully installed.


He said the pilot phase of the rehabilitation programme will exclude females and will be based on offering the youths a n opportunity for change.


Sounding a note of warning that government's gesture if shunned by "area boys" will lead to dire consequences, Asiwaju Tinubu declared "anyone who refuses this good gesture and our goodwill to offer him/her a new life must be ready to leave Lagos".


According to him, the six months period of residence will not only lead to a complete rehabilitation but also lead to the internationally recognized trade test certificate.


The Governor also said the administration had envisioned a two pronged plan for rehabilitation after graduation either to become self-employed with a financial bank or employable.


He further said his administration plans to have other centres at appropriate areas in the state adding that government will continue to dialogue with miscreants and offer them the goodwill to change.


In a report presented by the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola said about N110 million had been expended by the government in both phases of the rehabilitation of the centre.


According to him, the centre had been established as a slave post but was rehabilitated as a detention camp by the military government in 1985 with such facilities as 12 wooden dormitories, dwarf walls, steel poles and sand screeded floor.


While also stating that the project will be fully delivered by mid-March, Aregbesola urged that the necessary deployments by the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social Development should be concluded.


Earlier while conducting the Executive Council round the agriculture component Dr. Jide Basorun, Director of Agric. Services disclosed that the facilities have capacity to sustain the centre through the production offish, poultry products and snailry.


According to him with a 1000 layer bird poultry, 2000 fish capacity aquaculture and 1000 capacity snailry, the centre can not only expand but has the yield to make the centre self sustaining.

Dudu_Negro:

Thanks naptu.

On behalf of Lagos State Im asking that Anambra reimburse the cost of training per head of these refugees and as well the transportation cost. Did they get a hair cut before leaving Lagos? They will pay for that as well.

Krucifax: @ Dudunegro,

With respect your diatribe of a post is a nonsensical perversion of the standing national constitution governing Nigerian citizenry. If we were to give it any substance you would then be suggesting that regional laws supersede national laws or that they even have precedence which means you do not understand the basis of the Nigerian constitution.

Furthermore in absence of the facts or more importantly an explanation from relevant authorities, your quick dive into suggesting that the actions are legal betray a lack of even modest understanding of prevailing laws.

The article in itself suggests that some of the so called deportees “are not Igbo” ,are you also suggesting that it made sense to take them to the aforementioned state?
I also put it to you that if the article is indeed correct then the state of Lagos has acted unilaterally and in grave breach of citizenship rights.

Furthermore you clearly misunderstand the concept of “local indigene” as per national constitution and its relationship with movement of goods and persons within the natural borders of Nigeria and especially what it says about right of free abode conferred on ALL citizens regardless of tribe or beliefs.
In addition to a “local indigene” can be a misnomer as it’s primary tenet is that you are BORN of a region. It does not cater to people of mixed parentage (Igbo+Yoruba etc), or people with a different background who born and bred in other regions of Nigeria. That is why national laws always takes precedence. Taking a few minutes to read the constitution should have told you that.

In conclusion it is fair to say at this point that no one has all the fact as to the event, an explanation from the state of Lagos is very much needed.