Lagos Assembly to pass law to punish street beggars — Speaker

Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, says the legislative arm is considering passing a law to regulate alms begging and stop beggars from parading the streets of the state.

Obasa said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on the sidelines of the launch of the Ibile Muslim Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation in Lagos.

He said that there was a need for such legislation.

Obasa explained that the proposed law would empower the state government to regulate aid soliciting.

According to him, the law will also ensure donations reach the needy without them having to beg on the streets.

He noted that the rising number of beggars in Lagos necessitated this regulation.

“We are looking at how we can manage such situations to stop beggars from parading the streets of Lagos begging for alms.

“Following such legislation, anyone caught begging on the streets or aiding such, particularly among children, would also be sanctioned according to the law,” Obasa said.