The Lagos State Government has arrested 396 street beggars in a renewed enforcement exercise aimed at improving environmental sanitation, public order and safety across the state.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as the KAI Corps, forms part of the government’s ongoing campaign against street begging and other environmental infractions.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said those arrested would be profiled, provided with appropriate assistance where necessary and handed over to relevant authorities for safe return to their respective states.
According to Wahab, the exercise reflects the state’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner, safer and more orderly environment while ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive the necessary support before relocation. Street begging remains prohibited under Lagos State law, and the government has repeatedly urged residents to channel charitable donations through registered organizations instead of giving directly to beggars on major roads.
The latest sweep follows similar operations in recent months, including the arrest of 226 beggars in June, as authorities intensify efforts to enforce sanitation regulations and reduce public nuisance across the metropolis.
The operation has generated mixed reactions. Many residents welcomed the crackdown, saying it would improve public order in busy areas such as Ikorodu Garage and other major transport hubs. Others, however, argued that repeated arrests alone cannot solve the problem, urging governments to address underlying issues such as poverty, insecurity, unemployment and the Almajiri system through rehabilitation, education, vocational training and job creation.
The Lagos State Government has maintained that enforcement will continue across the state as part of broader efforts to improve sanitation, security and the quality of urban life, while insisting that welfare considerations will remain part of its approach to handling vulnerable persons encountered during such operations.
