Sanwo-Olu links online display of wealth to Lagos street harassment

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned that publicly displaying large sums of money on social media can expose individuals to harassment and demands for money from street touts.

Sanwo-Olu gave the warning on Thursday while speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London, where he addressed concerns about the harassment of residents and tourists by hoodlums and touts in Lagos.

The governor joined the summit virtually from Lagos and said some social media influencers had made a habit of displaying cash to demonstrate their financial success, potentially attracting unwanted attention from people who believe they are entitled to a share.

He criticised the practice of posting large amounts of money online to impress followers, saying such displays could create problems for those involved when they encounter people who have seen their posts.

“You go to some influencers page and people are unreasonably and shamelessly displaying cash as a way of telling their followers that they have arrived,” Sanwo-Olu said.

According to the governor, individuals who publicly display their wealth may later be confronted on the streets by people demanding money based on what they have seen online.

“When these set of people now get accosted on the streets, it is to say that ‘we saw you yesterday posting that you have N10 million cash, give us out of it’,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that showing off wealth did not justify harassment, but urged social media users to exercise restraint when sharing details of their financial status.

He also warned that such displays could expose individuals and their families to pressure from people questioning their wealth and expecting financial handouts.

Addressing concerns that street harassment could damage Lagos’ reputation as a destination for tourists and visitors, Sanwo-Olu said his administration was pursuing several measures to tackle the problem.

He said the state government was taking vulnerable people off the streets and providing opportunities for vocational training and other forms of social support.

According to him, some of those found on Lagos streets had come from other parts of the country, making it necessary for the government to develop measures that address the different circumstances behind street activities.

The governor also disclosed that Lagos was working towards establishing a resident identity system to help the government identify residents, their locations and occupations.

He said the proposed system would provide data that could help authorities understand residents’ needs and determine the types of skills training, vocational opportunities and other assistance required.

Sanwo-Olu explained that better information about residents would enable the government to identify people who need support and develop appropriate interventions to improve their livelihoods.

He said the government needed to distinguish between people engaging in street activities because of unemployment or vulnerability and those involved in criminal conduct.

Sanwo-Olu also announced that the Lagos government was building what he described as the state’s largest mental health facility.

He said the facility would provide care for people requiring mental health support and help address some of the challenges associated with vulnerable individuals living on the streets.

The governor maintained that tackling harassment and disorder on Lagos streets required a combination of vocational training, social assistance, mental health services and enforcement against criminal activities.

He said the government would continue to provide support for vulnerable people while taking action against individuals engaged in criminal conduct.

“Because quite frankly, there are people that we need to take off the streets. If you are criminally inclined, it is for government to do the right thing by taking you off the streets and be able to deal with it,” he said.

“For the ones that are criminal, let’s also be able to deal with it. It is an hydra-headed solution.”