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“Stop Using Poverty as an Excuse for Security Threats” – Wike To Abuja Beggars
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his recent crackdown on beggars in Abuja, explaining that the measure aims to address growing security threats in the nation’s capital.
In October, Wike declared a “war on beggars,” aiming to reduce the rising presence of street beggars across Abuja.
Speaking on Wednesday during a live media briefing at his Abuja office, Wike addressed these concerns, highlighting the link between security and the need to regulate street activities.
He explained that while poverty remains an ongoing challenge, it should not be used as an excuse to overlook potential security risks.
Wike pointed out that in many cities around the world, urban policies limit street begging to ensure public safety, and Abuja should be no different, especially as it hosts major government offices, embassies, and businesses.
The former Rivers State governor emphasized that security in the FCT cannot be taken lightly.
He noted that some beggars in the city may not be as innocent as they appear.
In his view, there’s a real risk of criminals and terrorist informants disguising themselves as beggars to gather information on individuals, tracking residents’ routines and potentially relaying crucial details to criminal networks.
Wike highlighted that no country has fully eliminated poverty or unemployment but argued that in the face of security threats, a balance must be struck.
“There are people who could easily position themselves near your home or office under the guise of begging,” Wike said.
“But they’re actually monitoring your movements—knowing when you leave and return.
We have to take proactive measures.”
The Federal Government has announced an extension of the NYSC programme. It can be noted that the NYSC camp orientation is usually for three weeks before the youths go out to gain experience, employment, and serve the country for one year.
However, the FG announced that the passing-out parade from camp will be cancelled, and corps members will now spend six weeks in camp instead of three weeks.
“The first two weeks speak to laying a foundation on civic responsibility. The next two weeks will look at career mapping, basic accounting literacy skills, business planning and access to finance. The final two weeks, we intend to have focused corps-stream-specific training aligned with the corps member’s designated stream based on his choice, academic background and skills profile.”
With the rainy season in Nigeria, many are wondering if the increase in flooding has now become the new normal. Lots of videos, clips, and complaints have literally flooded online, showing how badly roads, homes, and other places have been affected.
We were used to hearing about the rise of water on the Island since it is literally surrounded by water, but now floods are being spotted on the Mainland as well.
We may not know exactly why this is happening, but one thing is certain—we urgently need a lasting solution.
The federal government reacted to claims stating that the new tax rules will be imposed on telecommunications and petroleum products for Nigerians.
The FG released a statement to explain the process and stated that there is no intention to place taxes on telecom and petroleum products and services.
“Those recommendations do not amount to government policy and are not binding on Nigeria. Decisions on tax matters are taken through established constitutional and legislative processes and are guided by national priorities and prevailing economic realities.”
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