45 Street Beggars Arrested During Enforcement Operations in Lagos

The Lagos State Government has taken firm action against street begging following the arrest of 45 individuals across different parts of the state. The operation was carried out in Alimosho, Agege, and Oshodi as part of a coordinated enforcement and environmental sanitation exercise.

The apprehension was conducted by officers responsible for environmental enforcement during a routine mop-up operation aimed at ensuring compliance with existing state laws. These operations are part of the government’s continuous effort to address activities considered harmful to public order and environmental standards.

The development was officially confirmed on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who shared details of the exercise through his verified account on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the arrests were recorded during the day’s statewide enforcement activities.

In his statement, Wahab explained that the exercise led to the arrest of 17 street beggars in Alimosho, while 12 individuals were apprehended in Agege. He further disclosed that additional patrols later resulted in the arrest of 10 more persons in Alimosho and six others in Oshodi, bringing the total number of arrested individuals to 45.

The commissioner emphasized that the enforcement action aligns with Lagos State’s zero-tolerance policy on street begging, especially in areas such as highways, road medians, traffic intersections, and other public spaces. He described street begging as an activity that constitutes an environmental nuisance and poses a significant risk to public safety.

According to Wahab, individuals who beg along busy roads and public areas expose themselves and motorists to danger, as such activities can cause traffic disruptions and accidents. He added that street begging also affects public order and undermines the state’s efforts to maintain a clean and organized urban environment.

The Lagos State Government, he noted, remains committed to sustaining these enforcement and mop-up exercises across all local government areas. The goal, according to the commissioner, is to promote a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Lagos, while discouraging practices that threaten environmental standards and public well-being.

Authorities have reiterated that enforcement efforts will continue as part of broader strategies to improve environmental compliance and ensure that public spaces are used responsibly across the state.