Senator Ali Ndume has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to implement a more compassionate and sustainable approach to addressing street begging and homelessness in Abuja, rather than resorting to arrests and forced removals.
Ndume made this appeal on Wednesday during Wike's presentation of the N1.7 trillion 2025 statutory budget to the National Assembly on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
Drawing inspiration from historical social welfare models, the senator referenced Kano State's approach in the 1970s, where vulnerable populations were identified, housed, fed, and provided with vocational training to foster economic independence.
"The FCT is also about the indigent," Ndume stated. "For the displaced people roaming around Abuja, it is not enough just to arrest them. What you need to do is what the Kano State Government did in the 1970s — identify the indigent and establish camps where they can be fed and trained so they can be taken off the streets."
The senator proposed a transitional support system that includes shelter, food, healthcare, and skills acquisition as a long-term strategy to reintegrate the less privileged into society and address the root causes of street begging.
Security and Healthcare Concerns
Beyond social welfare recommendations, Senator Ndume also suggested a new security strategy for the capital city to combat rising crime rates. He recommended adopting a "picketing" method reportedly used in Cairo, Egypt, where police officers are stationed at 200-meter intervals throughout the city from 6:00 p.m. until dawn.
"At every 200 meters, there should be one police officer either sitting or standing there until morning. That way, the mere presence of the police secures the night," he explained.
Ndume further expressed concern over inadequate medical infrastructure in Abuja, specifically highlighting Asokoro District Hospital's lack of critical diagnostic equipment such as MRI and CT scan machines.
"Even today, a patient was taken to Asokoro Hospital — they don't have MRI or CT scan facilities. I don't know if the Minister is aware, but if you are, I am sure you would have done something," Ndume remarked.
Wike's Response
In response to the senator's suggestions, FCT Minister Wike acknowledged the value of such social initiatives but highlighted the logistical and financial constraints facing the FCT administration in sustaining comprehensive rehabilitation programmes.
"The FCT doesn't have the capacity to support that kind of programme," Wike stated. "Some of them, even when you support them, still come back to beg. It is not just about establishing a camp; it is about sustainable engagement and ensuring they stay off the streets."
The minister added that while the intention is commendable, a lasting solution would require a multi-faceted, collaborative effort to address the systemic issues contributing to urban poverty and homelessness in the Federal Capital Territory.
