Stakeholders have endorsed a bill before the Lagos State House of Assembly seeking to prohibit street begging, protect exploited children and regulate the activities of street urchins across the state.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NBBSPIDEL.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
They expressed their support during a public hearing on the proposed legislation held on Tuesday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja.
Participants described the proposed law as long overdue, citing public-safety concerns and reported incidents of persons allegedly using knives and other dangerous weapons to compel residents to give them money, particularly at night.
The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Uchena Akingbade, said the problem had become particularly serious along the Lekki-Epe corridor and required urgent government intervention.
Akingbade, however, urged the lawmakers to remove ambiguities from the bill and provide clear definitions to prevent arbitrary enforcement.
She specifically sought clarification of the provision prohibiting “loitering for the purpose of begging” and recommended tougher penalties for offenders found with dangerous weapons.
The NBA chairman also urged the state government to establish more rehabilitation centres to ensure that enforcement of the proposed legislation would not be limited to arresting and prosecuting vulnerable persons.
Representing the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Gbolahan Oki said arrests alone might not sufficiently address the activities of street urchins.
Oki, a former General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, proposed the revival of a structured rehabilitation arrangement under which offenders could participate in productive activities and acquire useful skills.
Emmanuel Ikule, Executive Director of the Elixir Trust Foundation, asked the Assembly to make special provisions for beggars living with mental-health conditions.
He said such persons should be referred to psychiatric facilities or suitable rehabilitation centres instead of being treated solely as criminal offenders.
Other participants called for extensive public education and sensitisation to ensure that residents understood the provisions, objectives and enforcement procedures of the proposed law.
The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework for addressing street begging while promoting public safety, environmental order and the rehabilitation of vulnerable persons.
It would prohibit parents, guardians and custodians from using children for street begging or hawking. Children apprehended under the proposed law would be treated in accordance with the Lagos State Child Rights Law and referred to the appropriate child-welfare authorities.
Under the proposed framework, first-time offenders would be cautioned and sent to designated rehabilitation centres.
Repeat offenders could face a fine or imprisonment for up to three months, while habitual offenders could be sentenced to imprisonment for up to two years.
The rehabilitation programme envisaged by the bill includes temporary care, vocational training, literacy programmes, psychological counselling and life-skills education.
Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Abiodun Orekoya, said street begging and the presence of vulnerable children and young persons on the streets involved security, social, economic, developmental and child-protection concerns.
Orekoya said the legislative response must be firm but humane, stressing that vulnerable children found on the streets should be protected and rehabilitated rather than merely punished.
He said the bill would provide mechanisms for the care, education, rehabilitation and possible reintegration of affected children into their families and communities.
The lawmaker added that enforcement agencies would be required to respect the fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, the proposed legislation prohibits torture, unlawful detention and inhuman or degrading treatment during enforcement.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said the bill was not designed to deprive anyone of their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Obasa, who was represented by Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, welcomed partnerships with private organisations willing to support the government’s efforts to address street begging and its underlying social causes.
The bill also envisages cooperation among government agencies, the police, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, traditional and religious institutions, families, communities, schools, civil-society organisations and the private sector.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________
