Lagos State House of Assembly is advancing a bill that seeks to prohibit street begging across the state. Lawmakers debate the measure during plenary and vote to pass it for a second reading, according to reports from both outlets. Supporters of the bill say the growing presence of beggars on highways and other public spaces is becoming a concern for public safety. They also cite issues related to sanitation, noting the impact on environmental cleanliness in affected areas. The proposed legislation is described as creating a legal framework to address street begging, a problem framed by lawmakers as persistent and disruptive to normal public life. Premium Times adds that the bill is also intended to respond to broader concerns, including security and the image of Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial hub. The outlets report that the next step is continued legislative consideration of the bill after the second-reading stage.