The Lagos State Government has intensified its crackdown on street begging and homelessness across the state, with authorities rescuing 1,315 vulnerable persons from different locations while prosecuting 459 beggars through the Mobile Court.
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The move is part of the state government’s wider effort to reduce street begging, homelessness, mental health concerns, and public disorder in Lagos.
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, disclosed the development during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held to mark the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to Ogunlende, those rescued during the operation included 587 beggars, 560 mentally challenged persons, 143 destitute persons, and 25 street children picked up from major roads, public spaces, and other strategic locations across the state.
He explained that the rescued individuals were moved to government rehabilitation centres where they received medical attention, counselling, psychosocial support, vocational training, and rehabilitation services aimed at helping them reintegrate into society.
The commissioner also revealed that 459 beggars were prosecuted before the Mobile Court and sentenced to community service with an option of fine.
He said the action was necessary to discourage street begging and restore environmental sanity across Lagos.
“The state government remains committed to restoring dignity to vulnerable persons through rehabilitation, counselling, vocational empowerment, and reintegration into society,” Ogunlende said.
He noted that the ministry’s Rehabilitation Department continues to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach involving psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and social workers in handling rehabilitees across government facilities.
Ogunlende further disclosed that the state’s Rehabilitation Training Centre currently houses 1,295 rehabilitees undergoing therapy and rehabilitation programmes, while 1,072 persons were admitted during the review period.
According to him, 998 rehabilitees, including some foreign nationals, have already been reunited with their families after rehabilitation and are currently under post-reintegration monitoring by the ministry’s Human Integration Unit.
The commissioner added that several rehabilitees have also been empowered through vocational programmes such as tailoring, horticulture, barbing, phone repairs, and other skill-based trades to support their economic independence after leaving rehabilitation centres.
He also said the Lagos State Government had strengthened efforts against drug and substance abuse through the Lagos State Kick Against Drug Abuse initiative being carried out in partnership with schools, communities, NGOs, and security agencies.
Ogunlende reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to expanding rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes as part of efforts to reduce homelessness, street begging, and social disorder across Lagos State.
