The Lagos State Government has reiterated that it is still strictly forbidden to beg for money on the streets in any area of the State.
It has been reported that during an interactive session with stakeholders on Wednesday at Alausa, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, reaffirmed that the ban on street begging was still very much in place.
Ogunlende said that it was regrettable that beggars were back on the streets after the State Government’s concentrated efforts over a few months had cleared most of Lagos of this repugnant habit.
He said that street begging would not be permitted anywhere in the State because it would damage the reputation of the smart city that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is building in accordance with the THEMES Plus Agenda. He further explained that the practice could scare away potential investors because of the security risk it presents.
“We wish to state categorically that street begging or the act of using babies to solicit alms which has resurfaced in many parts of Lagos will not be condoned. Those who indulge in this unwholesome act had better look for a meaningful source of livelihood because begging does not contribute to the socioeconomic growth of any state or country. This is the main reason we organised the Rescue Operations for months during which the State was virtually rid of this menace,” Ogunlende said.
“The perpetrators of this ignominious business, particularly the syndicate in the act of recruiting children into begging, are hereby warned to desist forthwith or be ready to face the full wrath of the law when caught by the Surveillance Team deployed to the nooks and crannies of Lagos State to enforce this order,” he added.
