The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened beggars in the city that they will be arrested if they are found on the streets starting next Monday.
News About Nigeria reports that the Minister gave the warning at Katampe during the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the access road to the newly flag-off judges’ quarters.
Speaking on the decision to evacuate the beggars, the Minister stated that their presence on the roadside is “embarrassing,” as they are now the first that outsiders see when they come to Abuja.
While noting that the presence of roadside beggars is a poor reflection of the city, the Minister stated that they are also a threat to security.
He said, “Abuja is turning into a beggar city. If you know you have a sister, you have a brother who is a beggar on the road; please, from next week we will carry them. We will take them out. It is embarrassing that people will come in; the first thing they see are just beggars on the road. Sometimes too, they may not be beggars; they may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that.
“So I’m giving you a public order from now to Sunday; from Monday we will pack them out. Let us know that we have a city that we can call a city; it’s very embarrassing. We are fighting insecurity, and people will carry plates as if they are (beggars); they may be informants. In terms of security, let me state clearly now, we have declared war.”
