Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, has thrown its weight behind the proposed Street Begging and Street Urchins (Prohibition, Prevention and Rehabilitation) Bill 2026, but with a firm and uncompromising demand: do not criminalise poverty. The bill, which is currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, seeks to prohibit street begging and the activities of street urchins across the state, introducing a three-tier penalty structure that includes fines of up to ₦200,000 and imprisonment of up to two years for repeat offenders. The NBA's support came during a public hearing held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, where stakeholders gathered to scrutinise the legislation.
The Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Akingbade, told lawmakers that the bill was a step in the right direction, particularly in responding to the growing incidence of street urchins violently demanding money from passers-by and motorists. She described the situation along the Lekki-Epe corridor as particularly dire, calling for urgent intervention and even suggesting the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in identified flashpoints. "The situation is particularly serious along the Lekki-Epe corridor and calls for urgent action," Akingbade said. But she was equally clear that enforcement must not become a tool for punishing the poor. "The law must target harmful conduct and exploitation, not poverty, homelessness or disability," she declared.
The NBA's memorandum, presented by its Law Reform Committee, outlined a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring the bill achieves its objectives without violating fundamental rights. The association stressed that children found begging must be treated as children in need of care and protection, not as criminals. They should be handled under the Lagos State Child Rights Law and kept completely separate from adult offenders. The NBA also called for stronger penalties for adults who exploit children for begging, arguing that the true criminals are not the children on the streets but the adults who send them there. "Children are victims, not offenders. The law must recognise this distinction," Akingbade said.
The bill proposes a rehabilitation-centred approach. First-time offenders would be cautioned and referred to a rehabilitation centre. A second offence could attract a fine of up to ₦200,000, a non-custodial sentence of up to three months, or both. Serial offenders could face up to two years in prison. The rehabilitation programme includes temporary care, vocational training, literacy programmes, psychological counselling, and life-skills training. The NBA welcomed these provisions but insisted they must be accompanied by clear safeguards. The association demanded due process, court oversight, and defined time limits on detention. It also called for the establishment of more rehabilitation centres, arguing that enforcement without adequate rehabilitation infrastructure would be futile.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Abiodun Orekoya, said the Assembly recognised that street begging was not merely a question of public order. He described the issue as having security, socio-economic, developmental, and child-protection dimensions. "The legislative response must be firm and humane," Orekoya said. He stressed that vulnerable children found on the streets should be protected rather than merely punished and that the proposed framework was intended to provide for their care, education, rehabilitation, and possible reintegration into their families and communities.
The public hearing also heard from traditional institutions. Representing the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, White Cap Chief Gbolahan Oki, argued that arrests had failed to deter offenders because they expected to regain their freedom shortly after being detained. "The culprits don't see arrest as anything because they know the police nets are filled up and they know they will be out soon," Oki said. He proposed a rehabilitation model based on productive work, referring to the traditional Itekule concept under which offenders could be made to contribute through activities such as bread production. "What can curb the menace is to subject them to two years of hard work," he said.
The bill has also drawn calls for differentiated treatment of people whose presence on the streets may be linked to mental health conditions. The Executive Director of the Elixir Trust Foundation, Emmanuel Ikule, urged the Assembly to provide for people begging with mental health challenges to be referred to appropriate psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities. He cited areas such as Pen Cinema and Ojodu-Berger, where he said some individuals allegedly used knives at night to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.
The proposed law would give authorised officers of the Environmental Sanitation Corps Agency broad enforcement powers, including the arrest of suspects without a warrant and the seizure of property connected to the alleged offence. Apprehended individuals would undergo profiling before being handed over to the police or referred for legal and rehabilitation processes. The bill expressly prohibits enforcement officers from subjecting detainees to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or unlawful detention, in line with the fundamental rights provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. However, concerns remain about the potential for arbitrary arrests and the treatment of vulnerable people during enforcement operations.
The NBA's support for the bill is conditional. The association has made it clear that its backing depends on the inclusion of robust safeguards. It called for the proposed Agency under the bill to have clearly defined responsibilities, adequate state funding, robust financial accountability, and appropriate safeguards for the personal data of both children and adults. "Ultimately, the law must protect children, preserve public safety, provide meaningful rehabilitation, and uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of every person," the NBA said.
The debate over the street begging bill reflects a broader tension in Nigerian society. On one hand, there is a legitimate concern about public safety, particularly the activities of street urchins who use knives and other dangerous weapons to extort money from citizens. On the other hand, there is a recognition that many of those on the streets are victims of poverty, displacement, and systemic failure. The challenge for the Lagos State House of Assembly is to craft a law that addresses the genuine security concerns without turning poverty into a crime. The NBA has positioned itself as a guardian of that balance. Whether the lawmakers will heed its call for safeguards remains to be seen.
For the thousands of children and vulnerable adults who live on Lagos streets, the proposed law could mean the difference between a life of exploitation and a pathway to rehabilitation. The NBA's insistence on protecting children, penalising exploiters, and providing meaningful rehabilitation offers a roadmap for a law that is both firm and humane. But as the bill moves through the legislative process, the question remains: will the final version prioritise punishment or rehabilitation? The answer will determine whether Lagos takes a step toward a more just society or simply reinforces the cycle of poverty and criminality that has plagued its streets for decades.
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