Lagos Appeals to Influencers, Celebrities to Stop Funding Agberos

By Kehinde Adeleye

The Lagos State Government has appealed to celebrities, social media influencers and members of the public to stop actions that could encourage the activities of street urchins, popularly known as agberos, across the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the appeal on Sunday while reacting to a video documentary highlighting the activities of street urchins in Lagos.

Wahab said the state government had consistently carried out enforcement operations to apprehend and remove street urchins from different locations, but noted that public patronage and financial support had continued to undermine the efforts.

According to him, some celebrities, influencers and other members of the public unknowingly encourage the return of street urchins to the streets by giving them money or patronising their activities.

“The state government has consistently apprehended and dislodged these street urchins from various locations across the state.

“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,” Wahab said.

The commissioner acknowledged the responsibility of government to maintain law and order and protect residents, but stressed that members of the public also had an important role to play in addressing the problem.

He urged Lagos residents to avoid actions that could encourage street begging, lawlessness, insecurity and other activities capable of creating environmental nuisance on the roads.

Wahab called for greater cooperation between the government and residents, saying collective responsibility was necessary to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more orderly.

“We urge everyone to desist from activities that may inadvertently encourage lawlessness, insecurity, street begging, and environmental nuisance on our roads.

“Collective responsibility and cooperation are essential to building a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Lagos,” he added.