Increase in Street Begging Across Abuja

There has been a hike in the number of Beggars across the street of Abuja. This, some people say is a result of the economic strain on the nation.

Street begging in Abuja has become a common sight at major junctions, malls, airports, parks, markets, and places of worship. These beggars range from elderly individuals to teenagers and even children.

Some of these beggars pose as disabled individuals sitting on wheelchairs or on the ground with bowls in front of them, some holding placards describing their struggles, while others carrying infants, appealing to the sympathy that vulnerability evokes.

In an interview with Kristina Reports, individuals urged the government to address the growing number of beggars appearing in various areas across the FCT. They expressed concerns about how this issue is affecting the cleanliness of the city and making it harder for people to go about their daily activities smoothly.

According to Jimoh, ‘Abuja used to be a very serene environment with very few beggars at specific places like parks and junctions. Now, they are everywhere, at church, in traffic, at fast food, I’m telling you, everywhere, you cannot even help those that really need the help because you don’t know which one is real or not.’

Mary said ‘there is a need for the Government to step in. This is the FCT, it represents the whole country. It does not look nice for beggars to just be littered around. Funny enough some of these beggars also engage in crime. In traffic at night, you have to be very careful because they can just come to you as if they want to beg the next thing they have snatched your phone. Something should be done.’

In an interview with some beggers at Airport Junction, Jabi, they noted that life has become very unbearable for them and as such they are unable to fend for themselves and have resorted to begging.

Mustapha who is an indigene of Niger state said ‘I lost my whole family in an accident. That accident also broke my leg so I cannot walk or do anything. That is why I am here every day

Aisha who was seen with two children said that her husband was kidnapped in 2021 just after she gave birth and since then they have been trying to make ends meet but for the past few months, they have had to beg to feed because she used all her money to pay rent for a single room and now she has no money to eat with.

‘They kidnapped my husband in Lugbe in November 2021, that time I just gave birth. Since then, I have not seen him. We have been managing since but in July I used all my money to pay rent now I have nothing so since that time i come here to beg with my children.’

Note that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is tasked with keeping the city clean, which includes removing beggars from the streets, while the FCT Social Development Secretariat is responsible for rehabilitating those who are taken off the streets.