Over here in Nigeria, there are people we call touts, these touts are most often area boys who you will see at motor parks, or road junctions demanding money, they are usually also influential in the community and most of the people who give to them do so out of fear and for safety, it is very funny because these men through the money they make from demanding money on the road, they have a beautiful wife/beautiful wives all sponsored by money made by the roadside.
I have a friend whose boyfriend always regarded these area boys/area men as the case may be, tipping them on every occasion as he passed by the street, this will make them continually sing his praises, and he never had an issue with it despite and even though my friend was not comfortable with it, he kept on practicing the act of giving to them without any problem. After some time, she stopped complaining as he gave her a concrete reason that these men can save those they are faithful to during the period of riot or arising problems in the community.
Now, as a result of a work transfer, he was moved to a different state, leaving my friend alone in the area, every time she passed, the area boys switched to demanding money from here in place of her boyfriend, she wasn't making as much as he was and everything she spent was based on the budget which she explained to them, but they accused her of being stingy and she even overheard them saying, they will deal with her. She became really scared, but every time she passes she will give them a little change.
I believe greatly in charity and giving to the less privileged, but then how do we explain giving our hard-earned money to a grown man who has decided to waste his life away by demanding money from every passerby? There was one time that an opportunity from a family member landed for one of them to begin a reputable job in a company where he will be making a huge amount every month, but he absconded, claiming the money he made from the tout business was sufficient for him, I can only imagine how much he makes, but that is his problem.
The problem I have is, how am I supposed to give out of the little I make to a man who has no job, and just wants to sit, drink and womanize daily for some form of protection? Anyways, I blame our government which empowers these people for their selfish political gain, even if you report them to the police, you could end up being arrested instead.
I know what I am trying to explain would be understood better by Nigerians, let me know what you think about giving to these touts, do you believe in it or have you had an experience with them? Let me know in the comment section, thank you for reading.
