The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps arrested over 23 people who were unlawfully living under a bridge at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos on April 30th, 2024.
There were 86 makeshift apartments discovered, with tenants shelling out a whopping 250k per year. Currently, these structures have been torn down, and their belongings were moved out.
Root causes ignored
In a recent string of arrests, authorities have been targeting homeless individuals instead of addressing the root issues of systemic poverty and homelessness in the country. The government's inability to offer affordable housing has led citizens to improvise their own dwellings.
However, even these makeshift accommodations under bridges are unaffordable for many, perpetuating a vicious cycle of homelessness.
Addressing real culprits
One crucial action we can take to address this crisis is to stop treating the homeless as criminals but rather as victims of governmental failure.
The true offenders are the "landlords" who demand exorbitant rents, such as a quarter of a million, for cramped makeshift apartments under a bridge. Additionally, demolishing the meager shelters of the underprivileged without warning or offering alternative refuge only worsens their situation.
Access to Housing essential services
The government must do more than just offer affordable housing; they must also ensure access to essential services like water and electricity, which many Nigerians, particularly the homeless, lack consistent access to. Every individual deserves these fundamental amenities as a basic human right.
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