The Lagos State Government has defended its enforcement actions against street begging following criticism by reality TV star Tacha over the arrest of child beggars in parts of the state.
The response followed a video shared on Wednesday, January 7, by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, showing officials of the state’s environmental task force arresting a child beggar along a major road.
Wahab said the operation was part of sustained efforts to maintain order, improve public safety and prevent obstructions on major highways. The video, which showed the child visibly distressed, sparked widespread reactions on social media.
Reacting, Tacha faulted the government’s approach, arguing that arresting children does not address the root causes of poverty. She said the presence of children begging on highways reflects deeper governance challenges and warned that enforcement actions could further expose vulnerable children to harm.
“You don’t solve poverty with force. You don’t punish people for surviving,” she wrote, calling on the government to establish vocational centres with boarding facilities where children could learn skills such as shoemaking, fashion, photography and videography.
In a rebuttal, Wahab said government policies must be guided by law, evidence and long-term responsibility, not emotions.
He argued that allowing children to roam highways in the name of compassion amounts to neglect, noting that such situations expose them to serious danger from speeding vehicles.
The commissioner added 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.
According to him, children arrested during such operations are documented, with some reunited with their parents—many of whom live outside Lagos—while others interested in skills acquisition are enrolled at no cost through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
Wahab, however, stressed that government intervention has limits, stating that “the role of government is not to parent recalcitrant children.”
He also urged Tacha and other concerned individuals to move beyond online criticism and work with the state government toward more sustainable solutions to the problem.
