Chief Samuel Bamgboye, Kwara Commissioner for Social Development, Culture and Tourism  has said that street begging is illegal in the state.

Bamgboye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that his ministry would start enforcing the law to rid the state capital of beggars.

He said the Kwara State Street Begging (Prohibition) Law 7 was enacted in 2006 by the House of Assembly.

The commissioner said that the enactment of the law made street begging an offence in the state, adding that anybody who contravened the provisions of the law was guilty of an offence.

He noted that anybody who wandered about or placed himself or herself in any street or public place within the state to solicit for alms would be guilty of an offence and liable for prosecution.

Bamgboye appealed to the people of the state to support the government in its efforts to rid the state of beggars.

He said his ministry would intensify efforts to curb the menace by collaborating with the leadership of the beggar-communities until the problem was solved.

He also said that the ministry would particularly focus attention on Government House road, adding that officials of the ministry had visited the beggars in their abode at Gambari and Okesuna areas to chart the way forward.

Bamgboye said the government was ready to rehabilitate the beggars and train them in any vocation of their choice.

He appealed to the people to assist government in evacuating the beggars from the streets. (NAN)