Kehinde Fajobi
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to withdraw his threat to arrest beggars in Abuja or face legal action.
In a post on its official X handle on Wednesday, SERAP stated that “no one should be criminalised for their socio-economic status” and called on the Minister to provide opportunities to help beggars rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society, instead of arresting them.
The warning followed Wike’s announcement during a flag-off ceremony for access road construction in the Katampe District on Tuesday, where he vowed to begin a crackdown on beggars from Monday.
Wike said, “Let me state clearly that we have declared war; Abuja is turning into a beggar city. If you know you have a sister or brother who is a beggar, please, starting next week, we will take them away. It is embarrassing that people will come in and the first thing they will see are just beggars on the road. Sometimes, they may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that.”
In response, SERAP urged Wike to focus on addressing the root causes of poverty.
The group’s post read: “The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, must immediately withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja or face legal action. No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.”
SERAP further emphasised the need for the Minister to prioritise the welfare of the poor: “Rather than arresting and cracking down on beggars, Mr Wike should provide them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into society while respecting their dignity and human rights.”
The organisation also called on the minister to address the socio-economic challenges facing marginalised individuals, including homelessness and poverty in the nation’s capital.