By 5am, Lagos is already awake, buses are filling up, traders are opening their shops and workers are rushing to their destinations. But in some parts of the city, another group is already moving around the streets.
They stand at junctions, bus stops, markets and other busy areas, demanding money, confronting people and sometimes using threats to get what they want.
For many Lagos residents, they are simply street touts.
But something happened to me that made me look at the issue differently.
It is common to see many of them at parties and social gatherings. Whenever there is a big event, you can often find groups of young men hanging around the venue.
What shocked me most was seeing a group of children, who appeared to be between 7 and 10 years old, walking past me and already displaying the mannerisms and behaviour associated with street touts, I wept inside.
It was painful to realise that children who should be thinking about school, playing with their friends and enjoying their childhood were already learning a lifestyle built around intimidation and survival.
For some of these children, the problem may begin at home.
Some grow up in difficult financial conditions. Some do not have enough parental supervision, while others may drop out of school or spend most of their time on the streets.
For others, peer pressure can play a major role.
A young boy may see an older boy making money, commanding attention and appearing powerful, and decide that he wants the same lifestyle.
The street then becomes a teacher.
He learns how to talk, how to demand money, how to confront people and, sometimes, how to use fear to get what he wants.
With time, what may have started as imitation can become a way of life.
THE FEAR THEY LEAVE BEHIND
The consequences are felt by the wider community.
A trader may hesitate before challenging a tout over money. A motorist may decide to pay rather than argue. A passenger may keep quiet after being confronted.
For some residents, avoiding trouble becomes more important than speaking up.
That fear can gradually change the atmosphere of an entire community.
The concern becomes even greater when children are exposed to this behaviour.
When they repeatedly see people gaining money, influence or respect through intimidation, they may begin to believe that such behaviour is normal.
And that is how the cycle continues.
NOT EVERY STORY IS THE SAME
Not every street tout has the same background.
For some, poverty and a difficult upbringing may have played a role. For others, peer pressure, unemployment, lack of education or the influence of the people around them may have contributed to their choices.
These factors can help explain how someone gets into street life, but they do not excuse violence, harassment or intimidation.
Those who break the law must still be held responsible.
BREAKING THE CYCLE
But arrests and enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
If Lagos wants to prevent more young people from becoming street touts, attention must also be paid to what happens before they get there.
Children need access to education and proper guidance. Young people who cannot continue with formal education need opportunities to learn trades and useful skills.
Families and communities also need to pay attention to children who are spending too much time on the streets or beginning to copy harmful behaviour.
Those already involved in street activities should not be written off. Where possible, they should have access to skills training, employment opportunities and a genuine chance to build another life.
The challenge is not simply to deal with the street touts we see today.
It is to stop creating the conditions that produce the next generation.
Because when a child as young as 7 starts behaving like a street tout, the problem is no longer just about the streets.
It is about the future of the child.
