Lagos Assembly Advances Bill to Ban Street Begging

On Thursday, the Lagos State House of Assembly passed the second reading of a bill seeking to prohibit street begging across the state. Lawmakers argued that the growing presence of beggars on major roads and public spaces has become a public safety and environmental concern.

The proposed legislation aims to establish a legal framework to address this persistent social problem affecting security and sanitation in Nigeria's commercial capital. During the plenary session, lawmakers expressed differing views on the bill's implementation, with some advocating for rehabilitation and social support rather than solely punitive measures.

The bill comes amid renewed efforts to tackle street begging, as the government announced the arrest of 396 beggars during enforcement operations across the state. Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency, urged the government to adopt a compassionate approach, particularly towards children found begging on the streets.

Moshood, representing Ikorodu Constituency II, called for a review of the bill to prevent possible abuse or misinterpretation by law enforcement once enacted.