Jailed Street Beggars: Lagos Govt Reacts Says Ban on Street Begging Persists

In spite of the Lagos law banning street beggars and a recent two-month imprisonment of a street beggar by Yaba Magistrate Court V, there are still high numbers of street beggars on the streets of Lagos.

At Sabo Yaba, our correspondent observed a large number of street beggars who were indiscriminately involved in this act. The beggars, mostly northerners did their trade without fear. Also around Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Onikan, the street beggars were seen doing the trade.

However , the Lagos State Government has again restated that the ban on street begging, particularly the use of babies and children for alms on the streets of Lagos, is still in place.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Olusegun Dawodu reiterated the position of the State Government on the ban as he reacted to the report of the woman arrested at Herbert Macaulay area of Ebute-Metta for indulging in the habit of using different babies for alms taking.

Speaking further, the Commissioner revealed that the case was brought before Yaba Magistrate Court V, where she was sentenced to two months imprisonment without an option of fine, adding that the children are to be taken to the juvenile Welfare Centre for placement through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development for two months.

Dawodu lamented the increasing rate of using babies and children to beg for alms in different parts of the State, saying that the act is not befitting the status of the State and will not be condoned.

He said; “This act is not only an indication of child abuse but it is a clear violation of fundamental rights of our children as enshrined in Lagos State Child Rights Law 2015 which the State Government will continue to implement to the letter”.

“The ban against begging of alms is still very much in force, as anyone caught contravening the Law would be dealt with accordingly”, the Commissioner started.