The Lagos State Government has defended its ongoing enforcement actions against street begging, following public criticism from reality television personality Tacha over the arrest of child beggars in parts of the state.
The debate began on Wednesday, January 7, after the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, shared a video showing officials of the Lagos State environmental task force apprehending a child beggar along a major road.
Government Explains Enforcement Rationale
Wahab said the operation was part of sustained efforts to restore order, enhance public safety, and keep highways free from obstruction. He explained that children begging on busy roads face serious risks from speeding vehicles and traffic accidents.
The video, which showed the visibly distressed child during the arrest, quickly sparked reactions on social media, drawing both support and criticism.
Tacha Condemns Approach, Calls for Social Solutions
Reacting to the footage, Tacha criticised the government’s approach, arguing that arresting children does not address the root causes of poverty.
“You don’t solve poverty with force. You don’t punish people for surviving,” she wrote.
She maintained that the presence of children begging on highways reflects deeper systemic and governance challenges. Tacha urged the state government to invest in long-term social interventions, including vocational centres with boarding facilities where vulnerable children could be trained in skills such as shoemaking, fashion design, photography and videography.
Wahab: Compassion Without Safety Is Neglect
In response, Wahab said public policy must be guided by law, evidence, and long-term responsibility rather than emotional reactions.
“Allowing children to run across highways and dodge speeding vehicles in the name of compassion is not empathy; it is neglect,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted that Lagos State provides free public education, including tuition-free schooling and WAEC registration, as well as access to technical colleges and vocational centres offering training in various trades.
What Happens to Apprehended Children
Wahab explained that children apprehended during enforcement operations are properly documented and handled through established social welfare processes.
According to him, some children are reunited with their parents or guardians, many of whom reside outside Lagos State. Others who show interest in skills acquisition are enrolled, at no cost, in vocational programmes coordinated by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
However, he stressed that government intervention has limits.
“The role of government is not to parent recalcitrant children,” Wahab said.
Call for Collaboration
The commissioner also challenged Tacha and other critics to move beyond online commentary and work collaboratively with the government to develop sustainable solutions to street begging and child welfare issues in the state.
The exchange has reignited public debate on how best to balance enforcement, compassion, and long-term social policy in addressing urban poverty and child vulnerability in Lagos.
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