15/09/2026
*PROTECT CHILDREN, CRIMINALIZE HARMFUL CONDUCT, NOT POVERTY! - NBA Lagos Branch reviews the Street Begging & Street Urchins Bill 2026 at Lagos Stae House of Assembly Public hearing*
The Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, today joined legislators at the Lagos State House of Assembly to review the proposed Street Begging and Street Urchins (Prohibition, Prevention and Rehabilitation) Bill 2026 at the public hearing.
Presenting the Memorandum of the Branch’s Law Reform Committee, the Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch, Mrs. Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, emphasised the need for the Bill to effectively address the use of children for begging, obstruction of public spaces, and violent or coercive solicitation, while protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons.
The Branch noted that the Bill is a step in the right direction, particularly in responding to the growing incidence of street urchins violently demanding money from passers-by and motorists. However, it called for a balanced and rights-conscious approach that targets harmful conduct and exploitation, rather than criminalising poverty, homelessness or disability.
Among its key recommendations, NBA Lagos Branch called for children found begging to be treated as children in need of care and protection, handled under the Child Rights Law and kept completely separate from adult offenders. It also recommended stronger penalties for those who exploit children for begging, alongside clear safeguards around arrest, detention and rehabilitation, including due process, court oversight and defined time limits.
The Branch further called for the proposed Agency under the Bill to have clearly defined responsibilities, adequate State funding, robust financial accountability and appropriate safeguards for the personal data of both children and adults.
Ultimately, NBA Lagos Branch advocates for a law that protects children, preserves public safety, provides meaningful rehabilitation and upholds the fundamental rights and dignity of every person.
Read the full Memorandum from the NBA Lagos Branch Law Reform Committee here:
https://shorturl.at/DBiFA
Oliver Omoredia,
Publicity Secretary,
NBA Lagos Branch
