Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has urged residents to stop actions that encourage street begging, saying financial support and patronage of street beggars could contribute to their return to the streets.
Wahab made the call in response to an appeal by a Lagos resident who urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant state officials to take stronger measures to address street begging across the state.
The resident called for an executive order or legislation by the Lagos State House of Assembly to address what he described as the growing problem of begging in Lagos.
He also expressed concern that the presence of street beggars could discourage tourists and negatively affect the state’s hospitality industry.
The resident further called for young and able-bodied persons who refuse to work but engage in begging to be apprehended and put to productive use by the state.
Responding, Wahab said the state government had consistently apprehended and dislodged street urchins and beggars from various locations across Lagos.
However, the commissioner said the continued financial support and patronage they receive from some influencers, celebrities and members of the public often encourage them to return to the streets.
According to Wahab, such patronage could also create a perception among some of the beggars that street begging is a lucrative means of livelihood and contribute to what he described as a sense of entitlement.
“While we fully acknowledge that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety, security, and orderliness of our streets, we must also recognise the role that individual actions play in sustaining these challenges.”
The commissioner urged residents to desist from activities that may inadvertently encourage what he described as lawlessness, insecurity, street begging and environmental nuisance on Lagos roads.
Wahab stressed that collective responsibility and cooperation between the government and residents were essential to building a safer, cleaner and more orderly Lagos.
