The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has ordered beggars in the city to relocate to their respective states to state.
In a trending video, the FCT minister was heard saying, “Whether you said you are not the cause of your (situation), it is none of my business.
“Stay in your state and beg. FCT cannot be the centre of beggars. It is the only city we have in Nigeria that showcase the world… we will not allow that. I didn’t say it is good. Some of you choose to beg. We will not allow that. If you want to beg, go to other village areas,” the former Rivers State governor said.
The video came a few days after he revealed plans to evict beggars from the FCT, saying they pose security threat to the city.
To fulfil his beggar eviction plan, he promised to launch a special squad, a security outfit, to go after beggars and criminals on Friday.
Recall that the former Rivers governor read a riot act to beggars and scavengers in the nation’s capital on October 22, 2024.
The plan has elicited reactions from Nigerians, particularly on X and other social media platforms.
An X user @Richeey001 said, “Wike should go to Aso Rock and tell T-pain and his committee of election riggers to channel their energy on developing the educational sector, educating the north and improving the economy to ensure creation of jobs, then see if most of them will not leave the streets.”
Another user @Engr_KOK berated the FCT Minister, “You can’t stop Nigerians from being in any state they want to. After all, you guys turned many to beggars. Nigerians are hardworking people”
@Ayyub993 Tweeted, “This man came from Rivers to Abuja but wants to kick out other Nigerians from Abuja. What of beggers who are indigenes of Abuja? you gonna revoke their indigeneship ehh? Nelson.”
Despite calls by non-governmental organisations such Long Term Solution for Destitute Initiative, for the minister to seek alternative to begger eviction, the minister vowed that the city would get rid of the criminals and beggars within a week.