Wike Gives Beggars Oct 27 Deadline To Vacate FCT Streets

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, decried the influx of beggars in Abuja issued an ultimatum for them to vacate the streets with a public order from now till Sunday, October 27, after which he said they would be moved out as their presence was becoming a security threat to the metropolis.

The minister disclosed this at Katampe during the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the access road to the new judges’ quarters.

The minister who warned that the administration would commence evacuation of the beggars from next week, however, did not disclose where they would be taken to.

Wike noted that intelligence has revealed that some of the beggars are criminals who disguise themselves to carry out their nefarious activities. He said: “Abuja is becoming a beggars’ city.

I mean, if you know you have a sister, you have a brother who is a beggar on the road, from next week, we will carry them. We will take them out.

“I mean, it is embarrassing that people who come in, the first thing they see are just beggars on the road. Sometimes too, they may not be beggars. They may be criminals pretending to be beggars.

“So I’m giving a public order from now till Sunday. From Monday, we will pack them out. Let us know that we have a city that we can call a city. It’s very embarrassing. We are fighting insecurity. And people will carry plates as if they are beggars.”