The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has defended the state’s decision to arrest street beggars, following criticism from reality TV star Tacha.
On Wednesday, January 7, Wahab shared a video showing a child beggar being apprehended by the state’s environmental taskforce along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, part of ongoing enforcement efforts aimed at maintaining public order and safety, and keeping roads and public spaces clear. The video, which showed the child weeping during the arrest, drew reactions from several Nigerians.
Tacha criticized the arrests, questioning why children are on the streets in the first place. She argued that arresting them does not address the root causes of poverty and only instills fear. In her statement, she urged the government to establish vocational centres with boarding facilities, teaching skills such as shoemaking, fashion, photography, and videography, to provide viable alternatives for children living on the streets.
“The first question shouldn’t be why arrest these kids? It should be why are they on the streets? Arresting them doesn’t fix anything; it only adds fear to poverty,” Tacha wrote. “You don’t solve poverty with force. You don’t punish people for surviving.”
Responding to her comments, Wahab emphasized that the government’s role is not to parent recalcitrant children. He stated that enforcement and advocacy must be guided by law, data, and long-term social responsibility rather than emotion.
“No one disputes the reality of poverty or the dangers children face on our highways,” Wahab said. “The presence of minors on major expressways like Lekki–Epe is precisely why intervention is necessary. Leaving children to dodge speeding vehicles in the name of compassion is not empathy; it is neglect.”
Wahab highlighted that Lagos public schools are tuition-free, with free WAEC examinations, and that the state operates technical colleges, vocational centres, and skills-acquisition programmes teaching trades such as shoemaking, fashion, photography, ICT, and creative arts. He also noted that community leaders, NGOs, religious organizations, and elected officials frequently run empowerment programmes for children and youths.
The commissioner added that apprehended children are profiled, with some returned to their families outside Lagos, and others offered free admission into skills-development programmes through the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
“While these interventions may not be perfect, it is inaccurate to suggest that nothing exists,” Wahab said. “The role of government is not to parent recalcitrant children. We are, however, open to partnerships with concerned citizens, including Tacha, to help remove children from the streets.”
He encouraged stakeholders to reach out to him or the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mo Ogunlende, to collaborate on solutions.
