THE era of engaging in street begging or recruiting persons into it as a means of eking out a living is over for those who have taken to it hitherto in the state.
This is because the state government is all out to eradicate street begging from every nook and cranny of the state in order to make it have the image worthy of a 21st century model city.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Olusegun Dawodu made this known in his address at a press conference to create awareness about the Special Team set up by the ministry to curb street begging.
In his words: “Begging on our streets and roads constitute considerable nuisance to law abiding citizens who are entitled to go about their businesses without any fear or hindrance. This is what the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu promised Lagosians upon assumption of office. This is what it is delivering; this is what it will continue to deliver. As a responsible and responsive government the Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will not fold his arms and watch the State become a haven for beggars, it will take action to curb this menace.”
The commissioner explained that among the reasons why begging would not be allowed to thrive in the State were: it is a social vice that could truncate the good plans and programmes of transforming the state; it demeans humanity and abuses innocence in the case of children being pushed into it;it serves as a cover up for criminal elements; it constitutes environmental nuisance and impedes human movement and vehicular traffic.
According to Dawodu, the Special Team, made up of social workers, volunteers, medical personnel and security agents, under the purview of the Rehabilitation and Child Development Departments of the ministry after rescuing the persons they would be taken to rehabilitation centres and child friendly homes where they would be provided with treatment, psychosocial therapy and vocational training to make them useful to themselves and the society.
While making copious references to relevant sections of the Criminal Law 2015 and Child Right Laws to establish the legality of the task being undertaken by the State, the Honourable Commissioner solicited the support of religious and traditional leaders, political leaders as well ad members of the press in the area of advocacy and enlightenment
Similarly, the Commissioner for Police, Hakeem Odumosu,while appealing to sponsors of criminal elements to desist from the odious act,stated that the force decided to collaborate with the state government to rid it of all forms of environmental nuisance because of its constitutional responsibility of ensuring compliance with the laws.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso also corroborated the position of Dawodu.
