The Lagos State Government has urged residents particularly celebrities to stop financially supporting and patronising street urchins.
saying such actions encourage them to return to the streets and promote street begging.
The State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab made the call on Sunday via his X platform.
His response was a reaction to a post by one Ademuyiwa, @ThisIsAdemuyiwa, on X, who called the attention of Wahab, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the State’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Toke Benson to a documentary featuring an interview with street urchins in some part of Lagos.
In his response, the government said it had consistently apprehended and dislodged street urchins from various locations across Lagos but noted that some of them continued to return to the streets because of the financial support and patronage they receive from members of the public.
According to the government, the involvement of influencers and celebrities in supporting or patronising the street urchins, as allegedly shown in the video shared by Ademuyiwa, could inadvertently encourage the practice.
“The State Government has consistently apprehended and dislodged these street urchins from various locations across the state,” the government said.
“However, the continued financial support and patronage they receive from some influencers, celebrities, and members of the public, as seen in this video, inadvertently encourage them to return to the streets and, in some cases, view it as a lucrative means of livelihood, while also breeding a sense of entitlement.”
The government acknowledged its responsibility to ensure the safety, security and orderliness of Lagos streets but said individual actions also contributed to sustaining some of the challenges confronting the state.
It therefore urged residents to refrain from activities that could encourage lawlessness, insecurity, street begging and environmental nuisance on Lagos roads.
“We therefore urge everyone to desist from activities that may inadvertently encourage lawlessness, insecurity, street begging, and environmental nuisance on our roads,” the government said.
NPO Reports that in recent times, there has been an increasing complaints over harassment, intimidation and alleged extortion by street thugs in different parts of Lagos.