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Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has urged residents to stop financially supporting street youths, saying such patronage emboldens them.
Wahab, in a post shared on X on Sunday, described them as “street urchins”, adding that the state government had repeatedly apprehended and removed them from different parts of Lagos, but their efforts were being undermined by financial support from some influencers, celebrities and members of the public.
According to the commissioner, the continued patronage could make street activities appear to be a profitable means of livelihood while creating “a sense of entitlement” among those involved.
“The State Government has consistently apprehended and dislodged these street urchins from various locations across the State,” Wahab said.
“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.”
He said such support could also encourage some of the youths to “view it as a lucrative means of livelihood,” while contributing to a sense of entitlement.
Wahab acknowledged that maintaining safety, security and order on Lagos roads remained the government’s responsibility, but said residents also had a role to play in addressing street disorder.
“While we fully acknowledge that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety, security, and orderliness of our streets, we must also recognise the role that individual actions play in sustaining these challenges,” he said.
The commissioner urged Lagos residents to avoid actions that could encourage what he described as “lawlessness, insecurity, street begging, and environmental nuisance” on the state’s roads.
He called for greater cooperation between the government and residents, saying collective action was necessary to improve conditions across the state.
“Collective responsibility and cooperation are essential to building a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Lagos,” Wahab said.
Lagos authorities have, in recent years, carried out enforcement operations targeting street begging, roadside trading, traffic-related offences and other activities they say contribute to disorder and insecurity.
Wahab’s latest comments shift some attention to public behaviour, particularly the financial incentives that may encourage people removed from the streets to return.
Dear Ademuyiwa @ThisIsAdemuyiwa
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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,… https://t.co/NEzgN566Fm
— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) August 9, 2026
