The Lagos State Government has warned celebrities, influencers, and residents not to give money to touts, stating that such actions fuel insecurity and worsen environmental challenges in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that offering money to miscreants encourages them to remain on the streets, expand in number, and sustain acts of lawlessness.
He said that while some people may see it as an act of kindness, it contributes to a growing problem that makes government efforts more difficult.
On Tuesday, Wahab took to social media to caution the public, stressing that giving cash to street boys and teenagers is not a solution but a way of keeping them on the streets.
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He urged Lagosians to support the government by refusing to encourage such practices so that security and environmental order can be improved.
The warning followed public complaints about harassment and extortion by young boys and homeless individuals along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, with concerns raised that motorists are often intimidated and attacked on the corridor.
He wrote: “Let me also stress an important point: celebrities, influencers, and even well-meaning Lagosians must stop giving money to these miscreants. Each time you hand them cash, you are not solving their problem; you are encouraging them to stay on the streets, emboldening them to multiply, and reinforcing a cycle of lawlessness.
“What may seem like an act of kindness only makes enforcement more difficult and creates bigger security and environmental concerns for all of us.”
