Stakeholders at a public hearing organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly on a bill seeking to prohibit street begging and street urchins in the state have described the proposed legislation as long overdue, citing cases of beggars allegedly using knives and other dangerous weapons to force money from passersby.
The stakeholders spoke on Tuesday during the public hearing on the proposed law to prohibit street begging, street urchins and related activities in Lagos State.
Speaking at the hearing, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Uchena Akingbade, said the menace was particularly serious along the Lekki-Epe corridor and called for urgent action, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in affected areas.
Akingbade urged lawmakers to avoid ambiguity in the proposed law and recommended stiffer penalties for beggars found in possession of dangerous weapons. She also called for a clear definition of the provision on the “prohibition of loitering for the purpose of begging” and urged the government to establish more rehabilitation centres.
Arc. Gbolahan Oki, a White Cap Chief who spoke on behalf of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, recalled the menace allegedly caused by area boys, particularly during the EndSARS period.
Oki, a former General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), said some offenders were undeterred by arrest because they believed they would soon regain their freedom, as drug Lords can pay the fines and get them released for nefarious activities.
He also made a case for the rehabilitation of the Itekule concept, where those found culpable can be made to serve society, producing bread and more.
The culprits don’t see arrest as anything because they know the police nets are filled up and they know they will be out soon. What can curb the menace is to be subjected to two years of hard work,” he said.
Another stakeholder, Emmanuel Ikule, Executive Director of Elixir Trust Foundation, urged lawmakers to consider beggars suffering from mental health challenges, saying such persons should be referred to appropriate psychiatric and rehabilitation centres.
Ikule cited areas such as Pen Cinema and Ojodu-Berger, where he said some individuals allegedly used knives at night to force money from unsuspecting members of the public.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Adigun Olalekan expressed support for the bill, citing the daily influx of people into Lagos without proper identification and calling for measures to address the situation.
A counselling psychologist, Suliat Olaniran, also lamented the increasing embarrassment caused by street begging in Lagos, particularly at night, when some individuals allegedly resort to the use of dangerous weapons to compel people to give them money.
Other stakeholders called for extensive sensitisation and public education to ensure that residents understand the provisions of the proposed law and the reasons behind it.
The bill, which is being considered by the Assembly, seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for addressing street begging and the activities of street urchins, while promoting public safety, order and environmental sanity.
It also seeks to strengthen protection against child abuse, neglect and exploitation by prohibiting parents, guardians and custodians from using or permitting children to engage in street begging or hawking.
Under the proposed framework, children apprehended under the law would be treated in accordance with the Lagos State Child Rights Law and referred to appropriate child welfare authorities.
The bill also proposes a rehabilitation-centred approach. First-time offenders would be cautioned and referred to designated rehabilitation centres, while subsequent offenders could face a fine or imprisonment of up to three months. Serial offenders could face imprisonment of up to two years.
The proposed rehabilitation framework includes temporary care, vocational training, literacy programmes, psychological counselling, life-skills education and other social welfare support.
Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, said the bill recognised that street begging and the presence of vulnerable persons and young people on the streets were not merely issues of public order but also had security, socio-economic, developmental and child protection dimensions.
He said the legislative response must be “firm and humane,” stressing that vulnerable children found on the streets should be protected rather than merely punished.
Orekoya said the bill was designed to prevent children from being exploited for economic survival while providing mechanisms for their care, education, rehabilitation and possible reintegration into their families and communities.
He added that enforcement must be carried out within the law, noting that the proposed legislation requires enforcement agencies to respect fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to him, the bill prohibits torture, inhumane or degrading treatment and unlawful detention, stressing that effective enforcement and respect for human dignity could coexist.
Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Miranda, who spoke on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, said the proposed law was not intended to deprive anyone of their rights.
She also welcomed partnerships with private-sector organisations willing to support efforts aimed at addressing street begging and related social challenges in Lagos.
The proposed law further envisages collaboration among government agencies, the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, families, communities, traditional institutions, educational institutions, religious organisations, civil society groups and the private sector.
