Lagos State House of Assembly has passed for second reading a bill seeking to outlaw street begging across the state, with lawmakers expressing concern over the growing number of beggars on highways and other public spaces, describing the trend as a threat to public safety and environmental sanitation.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Public Affairs Directorate of the Assembly.
According to the statement, the proposed legislation is designed to prohibit street begging and provide a legal framework for addressing what lawmakers described as a persistent social challenge affecting security, public hygiene and the image of Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial hub.
During deliberations on the bill at plenary, members of the Assembly offered varying perspectives on its implementation, with many advocating rehabilitation and welfare support for beggars instead of relying solely on punitive measures.
The bill comes on the heels of renewed efforts by the Lagos State Government to curb street begging. On Tuesday, the government announced the arrest of 396 beggars during a statewide enforcement operation, stating that those apprehended would be profiled before being repatriated to their respective states of origin.
Speaking during the debate, the member representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, urged the government to adopt a humane approach, particularly in dealing with children found begging on the streets.
He recommended that vulnerable children be removed from the streets and enrolled in rehabilitation programmes where they could receive proper care, education and other social support, while relevant government agencies should be strengthened to
