Lagos detains 396 beggars in a sanitation crackdown as the state government moves to improve public order, cleanliness and safety
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, announced the detention of 396 people engaged in street begging during a coordinated environmental sanitation enforcement operation carried out across Lagos State.
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The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the development in a statement shared on his official X account, saying the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen sanitation standards and restore public order in different communities.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps as the government intensifies measures aimed at addressing activities it considers disruptive to the state’s environmental management plans.
Wahab said the individuals apprehended during the exercise would undergo profiling before further action is taken.
According to the commissioner, those identified would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for support and possible relocation to their respective states.
The Lagos State Government said the enforcement was not only focused on street begging but also formed part of a broader strategy to improve cleanliness, protect public spaces and create safer communities for residents.
Wahab stressed that maintaining order in public areas remained a priority for the administration, adding that similar operations would continue across the state.
The latest action comes amid repeated concerns over street activities, illegal roadside occupation and environmental challenges linked to rapid urban growth in Lagos.
The state government has previously carried out sanitation and enforcement exercises targeting illegal structures, street trading and other activities affecting public infrastructure.
While authorities have defended such measures as necessary for urban management, rights groups and some residents have often called for stronger welfare interventions alongside enforcement to address the social and economic factors behind street begging.
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The government maintained that the current exercise would be carried out with attention to proper profiling and coordination with relevant agencies.
