Lagos State Government don intensify their fight against street begging as officials arrest 20 people during one major enforcement operation for Ikosi Ketu and Mile 12 on Tuesday. The exercise na part of ongoing efforts to restore sanity for public spaces, reduce environmental violations, and make sure say residents fit move around safely without obstruction.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explain say the operation target people wey dey beg, obstruct traffic, or dey involved in activities wey fit endanger both motorists and pedestrians. According to am, the enforcement team — made up of KAI operatives — move through Ketu, Mile 12, Ikosi Road and the 7UP corridor after the ministry receive several complaints from road users.
Wahab talk say street begging no be small matter again because e don turn big environmental and security challenge. Some beggars dey stand for road junctions, traffic light spots and pedestrian walkways, which dey slow down traffic and sometimes cause panic when dem rush vehicles. He stress say the aim no be to punish people wey dey suffer, but to stop organised begging groups and reduce safety risks.
This operation wey we do today na continuation of our mop-up exerciseWahab talk. “We must protect the public from activities wey dey threaten safety, traffic flow and sanitation. Street begging don become something wey dey disturb the general environment. We no go allow activities wey fit put Lagosians for danger.”
He also explain say government dey work with social welfare agencies because some of the people wey dem arrest genuinely need help. According to am, the ministry go carry out proper profiling to identify who need rehabilitation, who need family tracing, and who dey involved in coordinated street begging rings.
The individuals wey we pick up don already go the appropriate authorities for profiling and further action
Wahab talk.
For people wey need assistance, government get systems in place to support them. But for those wey dey take advantage of the system, we go continue enforcement.
He urge residents to support the crackdown by reporting areas where street begging still dey happen. According to am, Lagos fit only remain clean and organised if everybody contribute by following environmental rules and reporting violators.
This latest operation follow several similar ones wey the state government don do recently for the same area. Residents for Ketu and Mile 12 don complain say the number of beggars don increase sharply, especially for busy traffic points. Some drivers talk say some beggars dey aggressive or dey act suspiciously, which dey create fear and misunderstanding for the road.
The Lagos State Government insist say dem no dey criminalise poverty or disability. Instead, the goal na to make the city safer, cleaner and more orderly. Wahab conclude say the environmental enforcement go continue across the state as part of a bigger plan to improve public safety and keep Lagos running smoothly.
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