The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has cautioned celebrities, influencers and members of the public against actions that inadvertently encourage the activities of street urchins, popularly known as agberos, in the state.
The commissioner gave the warning in a post shared on X on Sunday after he was tagged to a video documentary highlighting the activities of street urchins in Lagos by an X user.
Responding to the post, Wahab said the Lagos State Government had consistently apprehended and dislodged street urchins from different parts of the state.
He, however, noted that the financial support and patronage from some members of the public often undermined government’s efforts in ridding the state of the menace of street begging and environmental nuisance.
“The state government has consistently apprehended and dislodged these street urchins from various locations across the state.
“However, the continued financial support and patronage they receive from some influencers, celebrities, and members of the public, as seen in this video, inadvertently encourage them to return to the streets and, in some cases, view it as a lucrative means of livelihood, while also breeding a sense of entitlement,” he wrote.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to maintain safety and order, the commissioner emphasised that tackling the challenge also requires public cooperation.
“We therefore urge everyone to desist from activities that may inadvertently encourage lawlessness, insecurity, street begging, and environmental nuisance on our roads.
“Collective responsibility and cooperation are essential to building a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Lagos,” he added.
It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government recently intensified its enforcement against street begging and environmental nuisance, with officials carrying out raids on suspected street urchins and beggars in some locations as part of efforts to improve public safety and restore order.
