The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to retract his recent threat to arrest beggars in Abuja or face legal consequences.
In a statement shared on their official X account, #SerapNigeria, the organisation stated that people should not be criminalised based on their socio-economic status.
SERAP urged Wike to focus on providing opportunities for marginalised people instead of criminalising them.
“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.
“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. Mr Wike should immediately begin to address the root causes of poverty and the violations of the economic and social rights of particularly marginalised individuals in Abuja.
“Mr Wike must address the plight of those experiencing homelessness and those living in poverty in Abuja and not demonise and criminalise them,” the post read.
News About Nigeria reported that during a flag-off ceremony for an access road construction in the Katampe District, Wike declared a crackdown on beggars, stating that enforcement agents would begin apprehending them the following Monday.
He referred to the growing number of beggars in Abuja as embarrassing and suggested that some may even be criminals disguising themselves as beggars.
