The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to retract his recent threat to arrest beggars in Abuja, warning that he may face legal action if he does not comply. This call follows Wike’s declaration during a road construction flag-off ceremony in the Katampe District, where he expressed concerns about the increasing number of beggars in the capital, deeming it embarrassing for visitors.
Wike stated, “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.”
In response, SERAP took to its official X account, emphasizing that penalizing individuals for their socio-economic status is unjust. The organization urged Wike to focus on creating opportunities that would enable beggars to reintegrate into society rather than resorting to arrests. The post read:
“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 criminalized 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.”
SERAP further called for action to address the root causes of poverty and the violations of the economic and social rights of marginalized individuals in Abuja, particularly those experiencing homelessness and those living in vulnerable situations.