Stop your unlawful threat to crack down on beggars in FCT or face legal action, Serap warns Wike

The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project has called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to revoke his threat to arrest beggars in the Federal Capital Territory or face legal action.

During a flag-off ceremony for road construction in the Katampe District of the Federal Capital on Tuesday, Wike threatened action against beggars, stating that enforcement agents would begin apprehending them starting Monday.

He 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, from 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. So, I’m giving you a public holiday from now until Sunday. From Monday, we will remove them.”

However, in a post on its official X account, on Wednesday, SERAP asserted that individuals should not be penalized for their socio-economic status. It encouraged the Minister to offer opportunities that would help them restore their lives and reintegrate into society.

The post reads: “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.”