Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has warned that the state could end up bearing the burden of offenders from other states if a proposed rehabilitation centre is established without wider funding and cooperation. Wahab made the remark on Saturday while responding to a proposal by……
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has warned that the state could end up bearing the burden of offenders from other states if a proposed rehabilitation centre is established without wider funding and cooperation.
Wahab made the remark on Saturday while responding to a proposal by Uche, identified on X as @U_Rochas, for the Lagos State Government to establish a correctional rehabilitation centre capable of accommodating about 500,000 offenders.
Uche had suggested that offenders be removed from the streets, enrolled in vocational skills training and farming programmes, and subjected to continuous monitoring while serving their sentences.
READ ALSO: Lagos Arrests 27 Suspected Hoodlums Over Alleged Vandalism of Festac-Alakija Bridge
Uche wrote: “Actually, what the Lagos State Government needs most right now is a correctional rehabilitation center that can accommodate about 500,000 people. They already have mobile courts. Take these offenders off the streets, engage them in vocational skills training and farming, and the vandalism will reduce significantly.”
He argued that such an approach could help reduce vandalism and enable offenders to become productive members of society.
Responding, Wahab urged Uche to take the proposal to other state governors and seek their financial contributions, warning that Lagos could otherwise be left to deal with offenders from across the country.
“Do well to propose this to other state governors so they can fund it, as we would most likely be inheriting their problems. Thank you!” Wahab said.
Uche had also called for regular reshuffling of law enforcement patrol personnel to minimise compromise and strengthen accountability.
The commissioner’s comment followed recent enforcement activities by the Lagos State Government against alleged vandals targeting public infrastructure.
TVC News Online had earlier reported that the Lagos State Government arrested 27 suspected hoodlums following the alleged vandalism of a newly constructed bridge linking Festac Town to Alakija.
The state government in another operation reported the arrest of another suspected vandal for allegedly removing iron rods, cables and steel reinforcements from a concrete barrier at Mile 12 along Ikorodu Road.
The suspect was apprehended at Kosofe Bus Stop during a monitoring and enforcement operation, the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed in a post on his Instagram handle on Saturday.
Wahab said the barrier was installed to prevent pedestrians from crossing the expressway at unauthorised points.
