Insecurity: Lagos Goes Tough On Street Begging, Homelessness

Amid worsening insecurity in the country, the Lagos State government has intensified its crackdown on street begging and homelessness, rescuing at least 45 persons, including street beggars and the destitute, across the metropolis.

The state government, in a fresh enforcement drive towards enhancing a safe and healthy environment, is coming in the wake of growing insecurity and apprehension spreading across the South West region of the country, including Lagos State.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Wednesday disclosed via his official X handle, with a video showing environmental offenders being taken away in Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, operational vehicle to various rehabilitation centres.

Wahab on his X handle said, “Earlier today,(Wednesday) in a separate enforcement operation, our team apprehended 22 beggars at Oshodi and Agege, comprising adults and a few teenagers.

“Additionally, 14 adults and 9 children were apprehended at CMS.

“Clearance operations are also ongoing at Admiralty Way, Lekki, and Addo Road in Ajah for #Cleaner and safer Lagos.”

He had during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the seventh anniversary in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, held at Alausa, Ikeja, recently, disclosed that 931 persons were apprehended for waste management offences and sealing 239 facilities across the state within the last one year.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab said the state government strengthened the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) operations of the ministry during the period under review to ensure strict adherence to environmental regulations and sanitation standards.

According to him, enforcement officers inspected 2,251 sites across the state and issued 1,711 contravention notices to individuals and organisations found violating environmental laws.

“Through the monitoring and enforcement drive of the agency, 931 persons were apprehended for waste management offences, 2,251 sites were inspected, 1,711 contravention notices were issued and 239 sites were sealed,” the commissioner said.

Also, state’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, during the 2026 ministerial press briefing marking the seventh anniversary of Governor Sanwo-Olu, at same venue, said as Government intensified its clampdown on street begging and homelessness, rescued no fewer than 1,315 vulnerable persons from different parts of the state while prosecuting 459 beggars through the Mobile Court during the period under review.

Ogunlende said the exercise formed part of the state government’s ongoing rehabilitation and reintegration programme aimed at addressing street begging, homelessness, mental health concerns, and public disorder across the state.

According to him, those rescued comprised 587 beggars, 560 mentally challenged persons, 143 destitute persons, and 25 street children picked up from major roads and public spaces during the review period.

He explained that the rescued individuals were taken to government rehabilitation centres where they received medical care, psychosocial support, counselling, vocational training, and other rehabilitation services.

The commissioner further disclosed that 459 beggars were prosecuted before the Mobile Court and sentenced to community service with an option of fine as part of measures to discourage street begging and restore environmental sanity in the metropolis.

“The state government remains committed to restoring dignity to vulnerable persons through rehabilitation, counselling, vocational empowerment, and reintegration into society,” Ogunlende said.