The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly rejected a proposal to build housing facilities for displaced persons and beggars roaming the streets of Abuja, stating that such an approach is unsuitable for the capital city.

Wike made the declaration during the 2025 FCT Appropriation Bill defence session at the National Assembly. He was accompanied by the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, and other top officials of the FCT administration.

The delegation first appeared before the House of Representatives Committee before proceeding to a closed-door meeting.

During the deliberation, Senator Ali Ndume expressed concern over the increasing number of displaced persons and beggars in Abuja and advised the FCT Administration to adopt a strategy similar to that used in Kano decades ago.

?The indigenes or the displaced persons roaming in Abuja?it?s not enough as Nigerians driving them or arresting them. What you need to do is what the Kano government did as far back as the 1970s,? Senator Ndume said.

?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.?

In a swift rebuttal, Wike dismissed the suggestion, insisting that the peculiar nature of Abuja as the nation?s capital demands a different approach.

?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,? he said.

?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.?

He also pointed out the unique security constraints of the capital city.

?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,? Wike added.

The Minister went further to issue a warning to roadside beggars, urging them to vacate the streets or risk arrest by enforcement agents. He previously gave an ultimatum on 27 October 2024 for all concerned individuals to leave the roadsides, citing the growing presence of such persons as a threat to urban security.

While flagging off the construction of an access road to the newly commissioned Judges? Quarters in Katampe, the Minister lamented the increasing number of people loitering on the roadsides, calling the trend alarming. (Channels TV)

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