Lagos Commissioner Warns Celebrities and Residents: Your 'Kindness' to Touts is Hurting Lagos 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has issued a strong warning to celebrities, influencers, and the general public, urging them to stop giving money to street touts. According to Wahab, what many consider an act of kindness is, in fact, making the problem of street lawlessness and insecurity much worse.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Wahab explained that handing out cash to these "miscreants" is not a solution. Instead, it "is encouraging them to stay on the streets, emboldening them to multiply, and reinforcing a cycle of lawlessness." He stressed that these handouts make it more difficult for the government to enforce regulations and create a safer environment for all residents.

Wahab's warning follows a recent complaint by a resident on X about the increasing harassment and extortion by homeless youths and teenagers along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The issue has also gained traction online with videos showing street touts chasing celebrity convoys, including one believed to be for Afrobeats star Burna Boy.

The commissioner's message is clear: while the intention behind giving money may be good, the result is counterproductive. The government is committed to addressing the issue, but it needs the public to support its efforts by refusing to enable the very behavior it is trying to eradicate.