Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / NewStats: 3,192,027 members, 7,946,458 topics. Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 06:25 PM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / 7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos (1009 Views)
7 Types Of Friends To Avoid If You Want To Succeed In 2018 - Topwritersden / Photos Of Beautiful Child Beggars In Calabar Go Viral / 7 Types Of Lies People Tell (2) (3) (4)
7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos by Adonis3: 1:18pm On Dec 21, 2015 |
In Nigeria, especially Lagos, giving alms to the street beggar is an everyday occurrence as there is the traditional belief that it brings good luck, and the religious consider it a form of obligation. Beggars on a Lagos street There have been debates over the years, however, on the cause and effect of giving handouts to these beggars in the streets. The key argument is that giving to them endangers their lives in many forms and also makes getting them off the streets extra difficult. No doubt, it is difficult to grapple the distressing sight of fellow humans living in horrid conditions, but in truth, it may be easier to weigh the situation of the beggar before you give in to your desire to bless them with alms. Some of these drifters are no longer just individuals garbed in dirty filthy clothes sitting around the roads with their arms outstretched, begging for alms; They are now also camouflaged as regular people walking the street, colonizing every part of the city and covertly harassing common citizens in a bid to satiate their greed or grow their begging trade. Of course, there is always the rotten apple in every barrel and seeing as it is one week to Christmas – the season of sharing love and giving, you may want to close your eyes to the bad lot and give to these street beggars anyways…but before you do that, if you are in Lagos, read on to know the different kind of beggars there are, that way you are informed enough to know which is more deserving of gifts. 1.The Destitute Beggar This is the classic beggar. The destitute beggar is the dirty, haggard, impoverished and pitiable soul lodged on the roadsides or under the bridges without a home or source of living. These set of people are unable to participate and compete in the workforce, and do not have anyone providing their welfare. Worse, they have no clue on where to go to for help, and so resort to handout from strangers for survival. It is usually difficult to pass by these people without dropping a coin or note; however, you can do better by pointing them to organizations (charities and churches) that can offer them long term restoration. 2. The Disabled Beggar Have you ever been trapped in Lagos traffic and a tap on your side window reveals a physically disabled citizen asking for sustenance? The experience is usually heart wrenching as you are most times compelled to wonder: How did he live through his youth? Does he not have a family? What were his ambitions? The disabled beggar is another classic, and usually includes an amputee or someone infested with an extensive or terminal disease. Sometimes, these beggars sit in groups and usually have their ‘love-vendor’ not too far away. You really should not turn your back on these people.
|
Re: 7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos by Adonis3: 1:23pm On Dec 21, 2015 |
3. The Mother-of-many
This kind of beggar is very easily encountered around
market areas and strategic road corners in Lagos. A
woman shabbily dressed, usually with sunken eyes
that express her dire state of helplessness, sits
with a number of babies, sometimes wailing
continuously to draw attention and pity. They usually
tell the sorrowful story of how they were abandoned
by her husband or how she and her husband lost their
jobs. These beggars who are hard to ignore, request
for cash donations and food supplements from people
who stop-by to offer assistance. There have been
rumors that some of these beggars actually borrow
these babies from other women and they work as a
group, however, whatever the case, it is usually best
to alert organizations to cater to such people,
pointing them to the location of the beggar so they
offer help where needed. 4. The Settle-Me road Lords These are possibly the most annoying of the different beggars encountered in Lagos. This “settle-me” road lord is not your typical beggar with a genuine need and seeking for assistance. They are able-bodied individuals who lurk around busy areas demanding for privileges that they do not necessarily deserve. They target certain people either because they look affluent or vulnerable. Most popular are the ones on the island who stay around areas with bad roads, they help victims whose cars get stuck and then demand to be settled. These kinds of beggars usually work in groups and can get very belligerent, especially if you encounter them around their area.
|
Re: 7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos by Adonis3: 1:24pm On Dec 21, 2015 |
6. The Entrepreneur Beggar
These “entrepreneurs” are pitiable but can be quite
the nuisance as well. Have you ever been in traffic
and a man comes to wash your windscreen without
your consent and afterwards askes for recompense?
Or have you been in the market and seen some ladies
offering to beautify your skin with henna patterns
and asking to be tipped afterwards? While these
beggars are making an effort towards making a living
by finding creative ways to earn money instead of
just asking, they can be very annoying – especially
when they are forcefully offer a service you do not
particularly need or are averse to. 7. The Child Beggar The child beggar is the child on the street that runs after you, tugging at your clothing, asking for handouts or financial assistance. Usually their parents sit not too far keeping a watchful eye while they go about begging. It is hard to ignore these children as their chants have a way of appealing to almost all kinds of people. It is best to give this kind of beggar food or clothing rather than cash, as they benefit better from those than cash – which are taken away by their parents. You can go further to make this child’s Christmas spectacular by donating clothes and toys. It is certainly more blessed to give than to receive, and so, as you celebrate this Christmas, keep in mind that the holiday is not all about merry making and discount shopping, it is essentially a season of love and giving; and charitable giving is surely the way to go. Look for a way to bless a life… it is as easy as giving to a beggar on the street.
|
Re: 7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos by ninovandross(m): 1:28pm On Dec 21, 2015 |
I be feeling like the man of tha year when I walk thru |
Re: 7 Types Of Beggars You're Sure To Meet In Lagos by BrightEye(m): 1:52pm On Dec 21, 2015 |
The 'annointed' beggars : I couldn't stop thinking for a minute that these set of people claiming to be performing religious activities were not common beggars. You would see some men in coat, or white garment claiming to be preachers at bus stops and garages, but at the end demand for some token. Same with some traditional kinda ppl, who move around with some cultural tools claiming of praying for u in return for cash. SMH. |
(1) (Reply)
How To Apply For Canada Scholarships / A Message To Name Checkers Association Of Nigeria. / When Is The Right Time To Move Out Of Your Parent's House?
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 22 |