Stakeholders demand tougher action against Lagos street urchins
Stakeholders at a public hearing organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly on a bill seeking to prohibit street begging and street urchins described the proposed legislation as long overdue, citing alleged cases of beggars using knives and other dangerous weapons to extort passersby.
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 possible declaration of a state of emergency in affected areas.
Akingbade urged lawmakers to remove ambiguities from the bill, impose stiffer penalties on beggars found with dangerous weapons, clearly define “loitering for the purpose of begging” and establish more rehabilitation centres.
Arc. Gbolahan Oki, a White Cap Chief representing the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, recalled the alleged menace 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 expected to regain their freedom soon, alleging that drug lords could pay their fines and secure their release for further criminal activities.
He advocated rehabilitating the Itekule concept, under which offenders would serve society through productive work, including bread production.
Another stakeholder, Emmanuel Ikule, Executive Director of Elixir Trust Foundation, urged lawmakers to provide for beggars with mental health challenges by referring them to appropriate psychiatric and rehabilitation centres. He cited Pen Cinema and Ojodu-Berger, alleging that some individuals used knives at night to extort unsuspecting members of the public.
Speaking for the youths, Adigun Olalekan supported the bill, citing the daily influx of people into Lagos without proper identification and calling for measures to address it.
