FCT and the menace of street begging

Despite efforts of the FCT administration to tackle street begging, the problem still  persist, as the number of beggars seem to be increasing on a daily basis. Begging has serious implications for the city and national economy, as those who engage in the act do not contribute anything to the country’s economy. That is why […]

Despite efforts of the FCT administration to tackle street begging, the problem still  persist, as the number of beggars seem to be increasing on a daily basis.
Begging has serious implications for the city and national economy, as those who engage in the act do not contribute anything to the country’s economy.
That is why the recent proposition by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello to repatriate beggars and destitute in the FCT to their various states of origin where they will be received by welfare officials, is worthy of commendation. Also worthy of note is the plan by the FCT administration to create a database under the Social Development Secretariat for beggars.
The establishment of this database would avail the administration adequate information on those arrested, as well as afford the government the opportunity to make adequate arrangement for their repatriation. Additionally, this database would also ensure easy reference for all those arrested and captured or repatriated, in the event they decide to return to their dishonourable trade.
It would be recalled that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, had earlier created a Special Task team, headed by retired Squad. Leader Abdullahi Monjel, to complement the efforts of the AEPB in curtailing the menace of street begging. To the credit of this task team, they were able to bust a begging syndicate based in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja. All these efforts are commendable because begging will continue to thrive if nothing is done to curb the menace.
Attempts to confront the problem in isolation of social measures are not likely to yield positive results. In this light, the rehabilitation centre in Abuja, Bwari precisely is not basically to take care of them but to get them off the streets. Arguments have been made against such centres because they lack the basic amenities necessary for living thereby not effective for curbing street begging. But the FCT administration has commenced moves to revamp all the vocational rehabilitation centres in the territory.
Danladi Akilu wrote from Gudu District, Abuja