‘It’s become big business for some people’ — Lagos moves to curb street begging

The Lagos government has set up a special team to curb street begging and hawking in the state.

Olusegun Dawodu, Lagos commissioner for youth and social development, disclosed this on Wednesday, at a media briefing in Ikeja, the state capital.

Dawodu said the special team was set up by the ministry of youth and social development, with the support of the Lagos police command.

He said some beggars on the streets have become a threat to law-abiding citizens, adding that curbing the practice of street begging is part of efforts to improve security in the state.

“The special team will tackle the menace frontally and will commence operation in the next few days,” he said.

“The road to our desired destination of ‘Greater Lagos’ has, among other man-made obstacles, street begging.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will not fold his arms and watch the state become a haven for beggars. This has become big business for some groups of people.

“Our investigation revealed that beggars and hawkers (children and adults) are transported regularly from other parts of the country to Lagos. This is with the sole aim of doing this odious ‘business’ that demeans humanity and abuses innocence in the case of children, who are being pushed into this degrading trade.”

The commissioner also said intelligence reports revealed that some of the beggars went about with dangerous weapons, assaulting and robbing innocent residents.

He added that the state will also embark on enlightenment programmes.

“In embarking on this enforcement, we will also deploy a lot of human and material resources towards enlightenment and sensitisation via different media platforms,” Dawodu said.

“That is why the way to go now is to enforce compliance with the laws of our state for sanity to reign in our society.”

He urged residents interested in philanthropy to visit registered homes, orphanages, rehabilitation centres and faith-based organisations.

On his part, Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos commissioner of police, said the command will fulfil its constitutional responsibility on enforcing the directive of the state government.

He also appealed to those involved in street begging and hawking to desist from it.