Lagos moves to ban street begging

The Lagos State Government has launched a campaign to sensitise the public on its zero tolerance for begging and destitutes on the streets of the metroplolis.

This is contained in a statement by Mrs Kemi lkotun-Adekusibe, Head, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development on Friday in Lagos.

The statement said that “the menace of beggars and destitutes on our streets had reached an alarming dimension.”

“This is in spite of regular rescue operations carried out by the rescue team of the state’s Rehabilitation Department,” it said.

“Beggars of different categories and destitutes have become a usual sight on the streets over the years with the resultant negative effects on traffic management and security along major roads.

“Some of the beggars have been found to be accomplices to certain crimes for which they sometimes hide weapons as robbers believe they would not readily be suspected.

“’While others under pretext of being beggars have dispossessed members of the public of their valuables on the roads,’’ the statement said.