The Lagos State Government has defended its ongoing crackdown on street begging, following criticism from reality TV personality Tacha over the arrest of child beggars across the state.

The debate began on Wednesday, January 7, after the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, shared a video showing officials of the Lagos State Environmental Task Force apprehending a child beggar.

Wahab explained that the operation is part of a sustained effort to restore public order, enhance safety, and keep major roads free from obstruction. The footage, which showed a visibly distressed child, quickly sparked reactions on social media.

Responding, Tacha argued that arresting children on the streets does not address the root causes of poverty. She emphasized that seeing children begging on highways reflects systemic governance failures and warned that enforcement measures could further harm vulnerable children.

“You don’t solve poverty with force. You don’t punish people for surviving,” Tacha wrote, urging the government to establish vocational centers with boarding facilities where children could learn skills such as shoemaking, fashion, photography, and videography.

In response, Wahab stated that government policies must be guided by law, evidence, and long-term responsibility rather than emotional reactions. “Allowing children to run across highways and dodge speeding vehicles in the name of compassion is not empathy; it is neglect,” he said.

The commissioner highlighted that Lagos State provides free public education, including tuition-free schooling and WAEC registration, along with access to technical colleges and vocational centers offering training in various trades.

He further explained that children apprehended during enforcement exercises are properly documented. Some are reunited with their parents, many of whom live outside Lagos, while others interested in skills acquisition are enrolled free of charge through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

However, Wahab noted that government intervention has its limits, stating, “The role of government is not to parent recalcitrant children.” He also called on Tacha and other concerned individuals to move beyond online criticism and collaborate with the state government to find sustainable solutions to the issue.