LASG reiterates ban on street begging, use of babies for alms

…Warns syndicate recruiting children into begging business

…Menace distasteful to investors — Youth Commissioner

By Moses Adeniyi

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has restated that the ban placed on street begging, as well as using of babies to solicit alms on the street in any part of the State is still very much in force.

This is just as the State government has issued serious warning to the syndicate in the State involved  in the act of recruiting children into begging, warning them to desist from such ignoble acts or end up behind the bars.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende during an interactive session at the State capital, Ikeja, observed that after concerted efforts were put in place by the State Government for a couple of months which resulted in sanitising most parts of Lagos of the ignominious practice, it was unfortunate that beggars were back on the streets again.

According to Ogunlende, street begging would not be allowed in any part of the State because it will not only tarnish the image of the smart city being built by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in line with the THEMES+ Agenda, but also the practice has the capacity of scaring would-be investors due to the security threat it poses.

In his words: “We wish to state categorically that street begging or the act of using babies to solicit alms which has resurfaced in many parts of Lagos will not be condoned. Those who indulge in this unwholesome act had better look for a meaningful source of livelihood because begging does not contribute to the socioeconomic growth of any state or country. This is the main reason we organised the Rescue Operations for months during which the State was virtually rid of this menace.

“The perpetrators of this ignominious business,  particularly the syndicate in the act of recruiting children into begging are hereby warned to desist forthwith or be ready to face the full wrath of the law when caught by the Surveillance Team we have deployed to the nooks and crannies of Lagos State to enforce this order.”

In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said the Ministry would not rest on its oars with regard to protecting the rights of children in the State.

Pharm (Mrs) Oke-Osanyintolu said, “The act of using children to solicit alms is not only improper and child abuse, but tantamount to clear violation of the fundamental human rights of our children as enshrined in Lagos State Child Rights Law 2015 which this present administration is poised to ensure its full implementation to the letter.”