FCT Minister Wike rejected a proposal to build housing for beggars and almajiris in Abuja, citing unique security challenges and the City’s special status as Nigeria’s Capital.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected a plan to build housing for displaced people and beggars in Abuja. He said this idea was not suitable for the Capital City.
Wike made this clear during a session at the National Assembly where the 2025 FCT Budget was being discussed. He was joined by the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, and other officials from the FCT Administration.
At the meeting, Senator Ali Ndume raised concerns about the growing number of displaced people and beggars in Abuja. He suggested that the FCT should use a method similar to Kano State from the 1970s. He said, “What you need to do is what the Kano Government did as far back as the 1970s. That is, picking the indigenes if you know them, and you have a camp where you can feed and train them, so they will be off the street.”
However, Wike quickly rejected this idea. He said Abuja is different from places like Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, or Ondo, so the same approach cannot be used here. He explained, “This is the Federal Capital Territory. The way things are done in Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, or Ondo will not be the same as what happens in the FCT. These people you are talking about are not indigenes. In a city like this, which is the FCT, where all the international bodies reside, it will be difficult for us to follow that kind of pattern.”
Wike also highlighted security concerns. He reminded that Abuja is home to important Government offices and leaders, including the President, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Defence Headquarters. He said, “On security, understand that this is where the President resides, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Defence Headquarters are here. We don’t have the autonomy to take over the entire security architecture of the FCT.”
The Minister also warned beggars who stay on the streets. He told them to leave or face arrest by enforcement agents. Earlier, on October 27, 2024, Wike had given a warning to all roadside beggars to vacate the roadsides, calling their presence a threat to security in the city.
While launching the construction of a new access road to Judges’ Quarters in Katampe, Wike expressed concern over the rising number of people lingering on the streets. He described this trend as alarming for the city.
In summary, Wike made it clear that Abuja needs a different plan to handle displaced persons and beggars, focusing on the city’s special status and security challenges rather than copying solutions used elsewhere.