The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • FCT area council workers suspend strike over Wike’s intervention

    FCT area council workers suspend strike over Wike’s intervention

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has suspended its three-month strike following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    The suspension was announced by the union in a statement, jointly signed on Monday by its president, Ibrahim Kabir, and secretary, Andulmumini Sa’ad.

    The union explained that its State Executive Council (SEC) resolved to suspend the strike effective from midnight after exhaustive deliberation on Monday.

    It said that the development followed Wike’s directive to utilise the area councils’ 10 percent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to offset the workers’ three months’ salary arrears.

    The union said another resolution was for NULGE to work with the Special Committee constituted by Wike to harmonise all outstanding arrears within two weeks.

    This, according to the union, was to ensure a holistic resolution through the National Assembly House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters.

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    The workers added that the union would engage with the area council chairmen to address outstanding issues.

    “NULGE is committed to sustaining industrial peace and harmony within the council and FCT at large.

    “The union expresses its profound gratitude to the FCT minister, the traditional council of FCT, and all relevant stakeholders for their efforts in resolving the industrial action,” the workers said.

    The union identified the outstanding issues as a 40 percent peculiar allowance from January 2023 to date, and 25 percent and 35 percent salary adjustments from June 2023.

    Other issues are the N35,000 wage award for six months from August 2024 to date, unremitting pension deductions, promotion arrears, and other outstanding entitlements.

    The statement said; “The union remains committed to engaging with the area council chairmen on the remaining entitlements and looks forward to a swift resolution of all outstanding issues”.

  • Abuja mobilises against imminent flood threat

    Abuja mobilises against imminent flood threat

    As the rains return, residents of Abuja brace for yet another season of floods. Authorities have stepped up preparedness—mapping high-risk zones, issuing early warnings, and urging residents to take precaution. Nicholas Kalu and Gbenga Omokhunu report that from clearing drains to planning diversions, efforts are underway to avert disaster and safeguard lives before the annual torrents strike

    The rainy season has returned, and with it, a deepening sense of unease in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. In Abuja, where thunderstorms now signal not just nature’s cycle but a looming threat, many residents are bracing for yet another round of flooding—an annual crisis that has come to define the season for vulnerable communities. Weather forecasts have already issued warnings of heavier-than-usual downpours in the coming weeks. For residents of flood-prone areas such as Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Lokogoma, Galadimawa, Karu, Gwagwalada, and sections of Bwari and Kwali, the first sign of rainfall is not met with relief—but dread.

    “I don’t sleep once the rains begin,” says Gloria Ashedu, a longtime resident of Trademore Estate. “Last year, water poured into our home so quickly we had to climb on the bed and wait. Everything was destroyed. We were lucky to make it out.”

    Her words are calm, but the trauma is unmistakable. The 2023 floods were particularly devastating, submerging roads, destroying homes, and trapping residents in rising waters. In parts of Lugbe and Lokogoma, entire streets vanished under floodwater. Vehicles were swept away. Schools and businesses shuttered. The floods turned daily routines into high-stakes survival, exposing just how vulnerable the city remains.

    Trademore Estate, in particular, has become the face of Abuja’s urban flooding woes. Despite its organised layout and middle-class status, its location along a natural floodplain has made it a perennial victim of disaster. Over the years, residents have invested heavily in raising their properties, building culverts, installing pumps, and carving out channels—all in a bid to stay one step ahead of the next downpour. Yet, the water always returns, defying personal efforts and exposing the limits of private resilience.

    Urban planners and environmental experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Abuja’s rapid and largely unregulated development. Estates have sprung up across low-lying areas, with little regard for flood mapping or environmental impact. Drainage systems are either absent or grossly inadequate. Even where government agencies issue warnings, enforcement is sporadic, and long-term solutions remain elusive. As the rains begin to fall again, the question looms: how many more flood cycles will it take before policy matches reality, and prevention becomes more than a seasonal afterthought? For now, residents like Gloria can only wait—and pray the waters don’t rise too high.

    Further out in Galadimawa and Gwagwalada, the same story of anxiety and loss echoes through communities. Every rainy season, shops are submerged, schools temporarily shut their doors, and families are forced to abandon their homes in search of safer ground. In some neighbourhoods, children wade through knee-deep water just to catch a school bus. For the elderly—especially those living alone—a trip outside during a heavy downpour can pose a grave danger. “It’s not just about losing property,” says Mallam Tijani Aliyu, a long-time resident of Lokogoma. “It’s about the fear that grips you every time the sky turns dark. You don’t know how bad it’s going to be. You just wait—and hope your house is not the next one to go under.”

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    This fear, shared by many, is compounded by the visible neglect in drainage infrastructure across the city. In numerous districts, clogged and overflowing gutters have become the norm. Open drains spill over during storms, flooding streets and homes with rainwater and refuse. Residents point fingers at indiscriminate waste disposal, poor maintenance of drainage systems, and the unchecked sprawl of urban development.

    Even in newer, more upscale estates, where buyers expect better planning and infrastructure, disillusionment runs deep. “You pay a premium to live in these places, believing you’re buying peace of mind,” says Temi Ogunleye, a homeowner in a mid-income estate near Lokogoma. “But once the rains begin, you realise the entire estate was designed without flood management in mind. Sometimes, it feels like we’re building our lives on sand.”

    The toll of flooding goes beyond emotional trauma or temporary inconvenience—it exacts a heavy economic cost on the city. Traders lose their goods. Artisans can’t work. Streets become impassable, bringing transportation and commercial activity to a halt. In business hubs like Garki, Jabi, and Nyanya, even a brief but intense storm can shut down entire neighbourhoods for hours. What’s worse, the cycle appears to repeat each year with little official intervention. Emergency response often arrives late—if at all. And while residents patch up their homes and elevate their doorways, the larger systemic failures remain unaddressed.

    Although various government agencies continue to pledge improvements in flood response, residents say the reality on the ground tells a different story. Drainage projects are frequently abandoned midstream, community sensitisation is minimal, and relief materials—when they arrive at all—come long after the waters have receded. “Government doesn’t live in these communities. We do,” says Abdulmumin Salihu, a mechanic in Karu. “They only talk on radio. When the rain comes, it’s every man for himself.”

    The science reinforces these fears. Abuja’s natural topography—a blend of undulating terrain and crisscrossing fast-moving streams—makes it highly vulnerable to flooding. With unrelenting urbanisation, many of the city’s natural water channels have been narrowed, obstructed, or built over entirely. What were once gentle trickles now turn into violent torrents during the rainy season.

    Experts have long warned that without a rigorously implemented city-wide master plan, Abuja’s flood crisis will continue to escalate. Yet, year after year, many communities remain dangerously exposed. In satellite towns such as Kuje and parts of Dei-Dei, residents have resorted to self-help—digging trenches, stacking sandbags, and fashioning makeshift flood barriers out of worn tyres and wooden planks.

    At the grassroots, the feeling of abandonment is unmistakable. Small-scale private efforts—community task forces, volunteer emergency responders—have sprung up in some areas. But they remain underfunded, ill-equipped, and disconnected from any formal support system. In Kurudu, mothers huddle at dusk, peering anxiously into rising streams to decide whether their children can safely sleep on the floor or need to be lifted onto furniture propped up by concrete blocks. In Gwagwa, food vendors nervously watch the sky, praying the downpour won’t strike during peak hours—because when the flood comes, it washes away not just their goods, but their livelihoods.

    As the rainy season peaks, more storms are expected between July and September. And with every downpour, the widening gap between government assurances and community realities becomes more glaring. For now, Abuja residents continue to brace for the worst—watching the skies, reinforcing their homes, and praying. Some have bought small water pumps and elevated their walls. Others have resigned themselves to fate. “It’s the same every year,” says Tijani Aliyu. “You prepare. You pray. You rebuild. And then it starts all over again.”

    To say the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is making efforts to mitigate the impact of this year’s predicted severe flooding may be stating the obvious. But whether these steps are adequate or timely remains a pressing concern. Experts say that to effectively reduce the impact of flooding in the FCT, the administration must go beyond rhetoric—by enforcing building codes, upgrading drainage systems, improving waste management, and addressing the broader impacts of climate change. To its credit, the FCTA has emphasised community preparedness and public awareness, with efforts underway to ensure that residents know evacuation routes and basic safety protocols.

    But the urgency of action became stark on May 29, when devastating floods struck Angwan Housawa in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. The deluge submerged homes and farmlands, claimed lives, and displaced hundreds—underscoring the deadly consequences of unpreparedness. Within the FCT itself, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has identified nine flood-prone communities across different area councils. These include: Lokogoma (AMAC); Pegi (Kuje); Yaba, Gawu, and Guridi (Abaji); Gumbo and Paiko (Kwali); Kubwa and Usuma (Bwari).

    The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) insists that precautionary measures have been put in place and that all relevant agencies are on alert to prevent large-scale disasters. Speaking with The Nation, the FEMD Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, said, “We normally rely on early warnings issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). NIHSA has informed us that 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states and the FCT are at high flood risk this year. With this information, we launched sensitisation campaigns and started engaging residents in vulnerable areas.”

    However, while the message is getting out, the results on the ground remain mixed. In many of the named communities, residents continue to express concerns over poor drainage systems, unfinished flood control projects, and inadequate support during past flooding incidents. As Abuja’s climate vulnerability intensifies, the test lies not only in how swiftly government agencies respond to warnings, but in how effectively they empower citizens to face an increasingly volatile environment. For many across the FCT, it’s not just about rain—it’s about survival.

    According to Isa, proactive steps have been taken in anticipation of the looming flood season. “This year, NIHSA provided us with a detailed outlook of potential flood-prone areas within the FCT. They also warned of likely flash floods across the territory. Based on that, we’ve been carefully studying the terrain and identified locations at heightened risk,” she said.

    Among the areas highlighted by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency are Lokogoma, Pegi, Yaba, Gawu, Guridi, Gumbo, Paiko, Kubwa, and Usuma—communities already familiar with the annual toll of torrential rains. “We’ve been educating residents on what to do before, during, and after the rains,” Isa explained. “We’ve advised them to clear their drains, remove obstructions from water channels, and those whose houses are dangerously close to waterways have been told to consider relocating to safer, elevated ground.”

    With predictions that June will see intense rainfall, the department has intensified its public sensitisation efforts, using radio and television platforms to reach residents. “We’ve been warning people not to drive through flooded roads. It only takes a few minutes of heavy downpour for disaster to strike,” she said.

    Isa also recounted FEMD’s swift response to the tragic flooding that occurred in Mokwa, Niger State, on May 29. “Immediately, we activated our town criers and local divers across the area councils and in other flood-prone zones. It’s part of our grassroots alert system.” She expressed concern over ongoing construction on waterways in certain parts of Abuja. “In some communities within AMAC, especially around Apo-Dutse, people are still building on water channels. We’ve flagged these violations and reported them to the relevant security agencies.”

    In a more immediate intervention, she revealed, “We are planning to block a major road near Galadimawa Roundabout to curb the flow of floodwater in that axis. Our search and rescue team is also on standby. They’ve undergone recent training sessions to ensure rapid response when emergencies arise.” Encouragingly, Isa noted a growing sense of responsibility among some residents: “In several of the communities we’ve visited, we’ve seen people clearing out their drains. That kind of awareness and action is what we’re working to promote.”

  • Inside Abuja’s rising crisis of child begging

    Inside Abuja’s rising crisis of child begging

    In the heart of Nigeria’s capital city—home to opulent estates, government ministries and foreign embassies—a growing crisis continues to unfold on the streets and within quiet communities: the troubling rise of child begging. From busy intersections in Wuse to the quiet neighbourhoods of Gwarinpa and Life Camp, children, as young as four, roam barefoot, pleading for food, money or mercy. Their presence is no longer confined to traffic lights or mosque gates; they now knock on doors, loiter near supermarkets and approach unsuspecting residents in residential areas, report NICHOLAS KALU and GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    A city under siege by innocence

    Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and symbol of Nigeria’s progress, is slowly becoming a city where desperation is visible on every street corner. The desperation is clearly seen in the eyes of barefoot children with cracked lips and sunburned skin, palms extended in supplication. From bustling intersections to quiet estates, from the marble floors of supermarkets to the gates of churches and mosques, the capital is under quiet siege—not by criminals, but by the innocence of children begging for food, money and survival.

    They are boys and girls, many under 10. They show up in neighbourhoods early in the morning, loiter near Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points, wander around markets and public parks, and trail shoppers at plazas in Wuse, Gwarinpa, Jabi, Nyanya and beyond. Some knock on compound gates in residential communities, offering prayers in exchange for leftovers.

    Others stand on intersections such as Berger, Garki and Area 1, dangerously weaving through traffic with bowls or plastic containers in hand.

    It’s a growing crisis. It’s not just about poverty. It’s about safety, accountability, neglect and the soul of a nation, many Nigerians feel.

    “They come in groups, even at night,” residents are alarmed.

    “I see them every day. They come in groups, children aged maybe six, seven, sometimes with babies on their backs. One night, around 10:30 p.m., I heard a knock on my gate. It was a small girl asking for rice. I cried that night. Where are the parents? Who’s watching these children?” Mrs. Veronica Udoka, a resident of Lugbe said.

    In estates in Lokogoma and Jikwoyi, residents share similar stories. What once appeared as a downtown problem has now crept into middle-class neighbourhoods and shopping complexes.

    “You walk into a pharmacy or supermarket in Apo or Wuse, and a child is waiting outside, eyes hollow, hands stretched,” said Adewale Bakare, a civil servant. “It has become part of our scenery. But that’s the tragedy, and we’ve become numb to it.”

     A disturbing evolution

    Child begging is not new in Nigeria. But in Abuja, what is new is its sheer scale, frequency and pattern of infiltration. No longer confined to highways or public markets, children are now embedded in residential communities, church premises, mosque courtyards, petrol stations and even hotel parking lots.

    A survey by one of our reporters in areas including Karmo, Gudu, Utako and Mararaba revealed that most of the children are not accompanied by adults. Many don’t speak English or any of the local languages of the capital, suggesting they may have been moved into Abuja from other regions. Some older children appear to operate in groups, coordinating movements and taking turns begging at strategic points.

    In many cases, they are not just hungry, they are at risk. Social workers report increased instances of children being physically abused, exposed to drug environments and exploited by criminal elements under the cover of begging.

    The Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it is implementing child-centred programmes and projects toward building a better future for all children in the FCT.

    The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi said this at the 2025 National Children’s Day, in Abuja.

    Benjamins-Laniyi explained that WAS has coordinated various interventions and life-impacting programmes for children in the FCT.

    She identified some of the programmes as the advocacy against Gender-based Violence (GBV) and review of guidelines for the operations of orphanage homes in the territory.

    The gesture, according to her, is to give hope to children, especially the vulnerable ones and those with disability.

    She recalled that in 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the Global Community to give direction to the rights of children across the world.

    She added that, in July 2003, Nigeria took a bold step to domesticate the International Child Rights Treaty by passing the Child Rights Act into law.

    “But currently, we are still faced with the challenge of full domestication and implementation of the Child’s Rights Act in all the states of the federation. There is, therefore, the need to ensure full domestication of the Child’s Right Act across the country,” she said.

    She congratulated children in the FCT and the country, adding that child’s protection and promotion policies that would protect children’s rights to education were critical to national development.

    The authorities said they were aware and alarmed by the increasing visibility of street children across the city.

    “We have a social welfare system that is stretched, but we are not folding our hands. The FCTA has recently embarked on profiling vulnerable children and has set up a monitoring team in partnership with the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to track trafficking and child abuse rings,” a top official of the FCTA said. It was also gathered that efforts were underway to expand the capacity of temporary shelters in Karu and Bwari, though no timeline was given.

    But critics say the government is not moving fast enough.

    “There has been more talk than tangible action. How do you explain seeing the same children on the same street every day if real rescues are happening?” a resident, Monday Akpan asked.

    An officer with the FCTA’s Social Welfare Department who spoke in confidence said: “To its credit, the FCTA has carried out several raids in recent years targeting beggars across the city, including children. “However, most of the children were released within days due to a lack of space at shelters and pressure from untraceable guardians. In some cases, they were simply dropped off outside the city limits. What you have is a revolving door. We arrest them, document them, but there’s nowhere to keep them. There’s no sustained reintegration programme. So, they return.”

    The streets are a classroom of chaos

     A deeper tragedy is unfolding. Every day spent on the street is a day robbed from a child’s future. Many of the children encountered by our reporter have never been to school. Uncertainty and desperation are clear in their eyes. A few speak of elderly people waiting for them at night. Some display bruises. Others are hyper-alert, moving like prey in a forest full of danger.

    “I asked a boy where he sleeps and he said, ‘near the big car under the tree.’ He pointed to an abandoned car. That’s his bedroom. What life is that?” said Kingsley Opara, who runs a small restaurant in Nyanya.

    Educators warn that the long-term effect is a generation of mentally and emotionally damaged youth with no skills, no trust in society and no sense of belonging.

    “These are not just beggars; they are potential recruits for gangs, drug mules or worse. Society must intervene now or prepare to deal with a bigger crisis in 10 years,” Ekanem Effiong, a resident of Kubwa, said.

    Many residents of Abuja express sympathy for the children but admit to being overwhelmed. “At first, I gave food or coins every time I saw them. But, soon I realised it was endless. One day, I gave rice to one girl, and five others showed up at my store the next day. It’s exhausting,” said Ifeanyi Eze, a supermarket owner in Gwarinpa.

    Some residents are beginning to push back, accusing the government of transferring the burden to ordinary citizens.

    “These kids knock on our gates at 6:00 a.m. They look hungry, but we don’t know their background. What if they’re being used? What if our kindness puts them in more danger?” Hauwa Sani in Lokogoma queried.

    There is also fear. In some areas, child beggars are seen as surveillance agents for petty criminals.

    “They loiter and observe. Once, a woman pretending to beg returned later with a group that tried to rob a customer. We’re watching them more closely now.” said a security officer at a mall in Jabi.

    Where do we go from here?

    With the government’s efforts still fragmented, the civil society is trying to fill the gap. But these interventions, while noble, are temporary. Without a national child welfare policy with teeth, the problem continues to spread. Experts agree that child begging in Abuja is not just a social issue, it’s a governance issue; a failure of safety nets, of law enforcement, of inter-agency coordination and of moral urgency.

    To combat the menace effectively, they recommend a special task force on child protection comprising police, immigration, FCTA, and NAPTIP representatives; mandatory profiling and registration of any child rescued from street environments; prosecution of individuals or networks exploiting minors under anti-trafficking and child abuse laws; public education campaigns warning against giving money to children on the streets; investment in community-based shelters, mobile schools, and family reunification programs; as well as the need for proper family planning.

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    Every day a child begs in Abuja, Nigeria fails, not just the child, but also itself. It is not enough to look away. Nor is it enough to give a loaf of bread and drive off. What is needed is sustained, strategic and humane intervention. This is so because when a nation’s capital becomes a haven for abandoned children, it’s not just its streets that are unclean, but its conscience also.

    Last year, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike,  ordered that beggars should be taken off the roads by security operatives. The order is still in effect with little or no effect.

    Also during the 2025 FCT Appropriation Bill defence session at the National Assembly, Wike rejected a proposal to build housing facilities for displaced people and beggars roaming the streets of Abuja.

    Such an approach, he reasoned, is unsuitable for a capital city such as Abuja.

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

    “Those who are indigenous to Abuja or the displaced people roaming the Abuja streets—it’s not enough as Nigerians driving them or arresting them. What you need to do is what the Kano State Government did as far back as the 1970s.

    “That is, picking those who are indigenous to Abuja, if you know them, and you have a camp where you can feed and train them so that they will be off the street,” Senator Ndume said.

    Wike dismissed the suggestion, insisting that the peculiar nature of Abuja as the country’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 indigenous to Abuja. In a city such as the FCT, where all the international bodies reside, it will be difficult for us to follow that kind of pattern,” Wike said.

    The minister urged roadside beggars to vacate the streets or risk arrest by enforcement agents.

    He previously gave an ultimatum on October 27, 2024 for all concerned individuals to leave the roadsides, citing the growing presence of such people as a threat to urban security.

    While flagging off the construction of an access road to the newly inaugurated Judges’ Quarters in Katampe, the minister lamented the increasing number of people loitering on the roadsides, calling the trend alarming.

    “While we ponder how to control and/or handle the frightening flooding of Abuja streets by kid beggars, we should bear in mind that today’s beggars may likely be tomorrow’s criminals.

    “The kid beggars, at no fault of theirs, do not know love because they have not been shown love,” a security expert said.

    QUOTE

    It’s a growing crisis. It’s not just about poverty. It’s about safety, accountability, neglect and the soul of a nation, many Nigerians feel. They come in groups, even at night. I see them every day. They come in groups, children aged maybe six, seven, sometimes with babies on their backs. One night, around 10:30 p.m., I heard a knock on my gate. It was a small girl asking for rice. I cried that night. Where are the parents? Who’s watching over these children?

  • Underage gambling becomes silent epidemic

    Underage gambling becomes silent epidemic

    The Federal Government and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) appear to have been largely silent on the issue of underage gambling. While some children across the world are learning robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), many Nigerian youths are being lured into the dangerous illusion of quick wealth through gambling. GBENGA OMOKHUNU and NICHOLAS KALU report

    On a dusty street in Kubwa, Abuja, 14-year-old hunches over his phone, eyes fixed on a betting app. It was a mid-afternoon. He should be in school, but instead, he’s nervously watching a Spanish second-division match, hoping a last-minute goal will turn his N200 stake into N5, 000. He’s one of many children who have swapped notebooks for odds slips, chasing quick wealth in a country where dreams are often delayed or denied by poverty.

    Across Nigeria, the flashing signs of betting shops have become more prominent than libraries. Sports betting, which was once a casual adult pastime, is now luring children with its false promise of overnight riches.

    Driven by desperation and emboldened by digital access, an alarming number of underage Nigerians are sliding into the world of gambling, right under the noses of regulators, schools and sometimes, even their parents.

    Nigeria’s economic crisis has pushed many families to the brink. Inflation is biting, unemployment is soaring and millions struggle daily to meet basic needs. For many youths, particularly in low-income communities, traditional routes to success — education, apprenticeships, or entrepreneurship—appear either too slow or entirely blocked. Betting has become the new hustle.

    According to a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment stands at over 53 per cent. For teenagers who see their older siblings with degrees but no jobs, sports betting feels like a more rational gamble than schooling.

    “I know people who won big,” says a youngster with the certainty of someone twice his age. “One guy in our street used N500 to win N150, 000. That kind of thing can change your life,” he said.

    But, for every overnight success, countless others like him lose money daily, sinking deeper into addiction and frustration.

    From bustling cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt to quieter towns in Zamfara and Cross River, betting shops are multiplying. Many operate late into the night and cater to anyone who walks in, regardless of age.

    In Abuja, 13-year-old Hassan recounts how he began betting by watching older boys.

    “They let me place bets with their accounts. Sometimes, they give me small money to try. Now, I have my own app. I use my cousin’s ID to register,” he said.

    The process is disturbingly easy. With mobile phones, VPNs and little oversight, children can open accounts, deposit money via wallet transfers and bet around the clock. Most betting companies claim to restrict access to those under 18, but enforcement is weak and oversight virtually non-existent.

    Teachers in public schools have noticed a troubling change. “We now find children discussing match fixtures, betting odds and game predictions more than their homework,” says Mrs. Uche, a secondary school teacher who spoke with our reporter.

    “Some even sneak into class after staying out all night watching games in shops,” she said.

    Parents, many of whom are overwhelmed by financial pressures, are often unaware, or in denial about their children’s involvement in gambling.

    In some tragic cases, the addiction has led to theft, violence or school dropout. Recently, there was a report about a 12-year-old who stole his mother’s phone to fund his online betting account. When confronted, he reportedly said “I just wanted to make money to help us eat.”

    The psychological toll

    Experts warn that the psychological effects of betting on children are devastating.  Dr. Yetunde Falade, a child psychologist said: “When a child is constantly chasing uncertain wins, they become wired for instant gratification. It distorts their ability to delay reward, focus on long-term goals and manage emotions—all of which are critical to healthy development.”

    Worse, the inevitable cycle of wins and losses can foster feelings of depression, anxiety and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.

    There are laws in place. The Nigerian Gaming Act prohibits gambling by anyone under the age of 18. Yet, implementation remains lax. Advocacy groups argue that without strong political will, community-driven enforcement and digital monitoring, the situation will only worsen.

    Some states are beginning to act. In Kwara, a coalition of civil society organisations recently launched a campaign called “Not before 18,” urging betting companies to deploy age-verification technology and pushing local government areas to crack down on underage access. But the response has been slow.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) appear to have been largely silent, despite rising evidence of the menace.

    While some children across the world are learning robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), many Nigerian youths are being lured into the dangerous illusion of quick wealth through gambling. What began as a coping mechanism is rapidly becoming a national addiction.

    Hassan, after losing yet another bet, sighs and mutters, “Maybe next time.” His phone buzzes with a new match notification; another chance to win, another chance to lose.

    Unless urgent steps are taken, Nigeria may soon find itself raising a generation more familiar with betting odds than books and more invested in luck than learning.

    Despite apparent regulatory restrictions, the menace of underage betting is worsening in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    There is no denying the fact that the primary intent of betting is to win additional money. What may be unknown to many is how much destruction the business is exerting on the future of the underage in many communities.

    For this reason, most parents and guardians are worried. But with intervention by the National Lottery Regulation Commission (NLRC), there will be respite for parents and guardians across the country. The NLRC continues sensitisation against underage gaming.

    An underage gambler (name withheld) leapt for joy as he rushed out of a sports betting centre within the FCT city centre.

    It was moments after he played a betting game from which he won the sum of N5,000.

    “I have just won N5,000!” the 14-year-old shouted excitedly. “The last time I played a game here, I lost. This time around, luck smiled on me,” he said.

    It was not the first time the youngster, a Senior Secondary (SS) student of a public secondary school in Abuja would play the game of betting.

    His romance with betting was influenced by his father, who had been betting for about 20 years.

    From running betting errands for his father, the youngster graduated into a real-time bettor with streams of income from it.

    Recalling his foray into the betting game, he said: “My father was the one who introduced me to betting after he lost his job as a site artisan in a construction company.

    “About three years ago, I started running errands for my father at different betting shops and kiosks in our neighbourhood. That was where I learnt how to play the game.”

    Then aged 11, he began playing betting games with proceeds of his savings and, at times, with money he stole from his mother.

    “The lure of the game made me empty my piggy bank at home and I played the game for the first time in 2014. I did not win but it did not deter me from continuing to bet with my savings.

    “When I first began playing the game for my father, some of my friends mocked me for being a delinquent. But my friends have also fallen in love with sport betting after I shared with them part of the cash I won,” he said.

    He is not the only underage person hooked on betting.

    Wale, a 15-year-old pupil who lives with his parents in the Wuse area of Abuja, prides himself among his peers as the ‘king of betting.’

    Two years ago, he became fascinated with betting games after an operator opened a centre in their neighbourhood.

    While returning from school, he and his friends would stop at the shop to play the betting games with fairly impressive success.

    Moses (surname withheld), a 16-year-old and an SS3 pupil, said he took to betting after he ran errands for her mother at lottery shops around their home in Kuje.

    He said that from the money he won from betting, he had been able to save some to procure the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination form.

    There are many online betting companies in Abuja, but the major games that attract minors include football, horserace and virtual soccer, because of the instant money that comes with winnings.

    Section 34 of the National Lottery Act, 2005 stipulates that it is illegal for an underage person to be involved in betting, with accompanying sanctions for operators who contravene the law.

    “Any person who knowingly sells to any person under the age of eighteen years any ticket in a lottery operated by a licensee commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not less than N20,000 or imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or both,” the law states.

    Although there are messages placed at the entrance of several betting shops and centres, warning that minors are not permitted to bet, the reverse was the case in some of the shops our reporter visited.

    In several of the shops, underage people were seen playing various betting games unrestricted.

    A source in the government said teenagers freely patronise betting centres around an open field in the community because some policemen come there to play sports betting games too.

    “Teenage betting thrives in many areas. If you come around in the afternoon, you will see them playing sports betting games unrestricted.

    “Most of them come from several streets away to bet in shops around here, because policemen who ordinarily should reprimand the underage bettors and the operators of the betting centres also bet there.”

    A psychologist, John Frances, blamed the indulgence of minors in betting games on parental failure, arguing that defective upbringing is a panacea for delinquent behaviour, one of which is betting or gambling habits by minors.

    Frances said: “Underage bettors are products of dysfunctional parental upbringing, whereby certain influences at home or neighbourhood encourage minors to play betting or gambling games.

    “Most of these influences are from parents themselves, and at times, the neighbours or peer influences children are exposed to.

    “For example, many parents, especially the poor ones, have taken to sports betting as a result of the harsh realities of the Nigerian economy. In the process, many of them expose their children to betting directly or indirectly, especially when their children run errands for them at lottery and betting shops.

    A social worker and counsellor, Mrs. Lara Adedamola, blamed the trend on the collapse of the value system in society and weak institutional regulations.

    She said: “As far as I am concerned, the diminishing societal values and weak implementation of regulations on underage betting is responsible for the menace of minor bettors, not only in the FCT, but across the country.

    “In our days, our parents and neighbours inculcate morals in us and reprimand us when we go wrong. But the reverse is the case nowadays as moral values have collapsed.

    “Also, law enforcement agents and public officers charged with maintaining regulations and enforcement compromise, hence, teenagers freely gamble and bet most time with money stolen from their parents or neighbours.

    “Betting or gambling has a craving that could lead to children picking up stealing habits, which could lead them into robbery or turn them into a nuisance in future.

    “My advice is that parents should monitor their children very well by creating time for them, while the minions of law should also apprehend culpable operators and offenders.”

    To further curb this menace, the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) recently declared zero tolerance against underage gambling in the FCT, with a promise to sanction betting centres that permit such acts on their premises.

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    This decision follows the official launch of the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office, FCT-LRO, a body responsible for regulating and overseeing the gaming industry within the FCT to ensure a fair and transparent system.

    On the issue with the FCT Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS, on the commencement of the FCT-LRO’s activities, the Director-General of the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, warned that any operator found facilitating underage gambling would face severe penalties.

    “There is zero tolerance for underage gambling. Any operator caught allowing minors to participate will be penalised. We are building a gaming environment based on responsibility, regulation, and fairness.”

    Gbajabiamila emphasised that the move demonstrates FCTA’s commitment to enforcing responsible gaming practices and preventing underage participation.

    According to him, the regulatory framework is designed to protect vulnerable groups, particularly minors, boost investor confidence, and foster an environment conducive to responsible gaming.

    The new regulatory framework comes in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling in the case of AG Lagos & Ors Vs AG Federation & Anor SC/1/2008, which affirmed that the power to regulate gaming and lottery activities within the FCT lies with the FCTA.

    In line with this, the FCT-LRO has now taken over the regulatory responsibilities previously held by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, with the FCTA assuming full control over gaming activities in the territory.

    The director general acknowledged that the regulatory transition might raise concerns among operators, but reassured stakeholders that it would not disrupt their operations.

    “We recognise that this regulatory shift may provoke inquiries among stakeholders, and we encourage licensed operators to engage with us as we navigate this transition. Our goal remains to ensure clarity, stability, and fairness while upholding global best practices in gaming regulation,” he said.

    He also clarified that all gaming licenses and permits issued by the now-defunct NLRC remain valid within the FCT for the remainder of their terms.

    The FCT-LRO boss also assured the people that, working closely with the FCT-IRS, the agency will create a more robust and transparent regulatory framework for gaming in the territory.

    The Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, reiterated the economic potential of the gaming sector, emphasizing that the sector is poised to attract investment, enhance tourism, and generate much-needed revenue for the territory.

    He noted that Abuja is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination and the gaming industry can play a pivotal role in this transformation.

  • FCTA inaugurates FCT Lottery Regulatory Office

    FCTA inaugurates FCT Lottery Regulatory Office

    In a move to streamline and invigorate the gaming industry in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), alongside the Director-General of the newly established FCT Lottery Regulatory Office, Lanre Gbajabiamila, has inaugurated a new office.

    At a briefing, Gbajabiamila announced the office’s readiness to begin full regulatory oversight of all lottery and gaming operations within the territory, urging operators to begin submitting applications for new licences.

    The FCT-LRO became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment in AG Lagos & Ors vs AG Federation & Anor SC/1/2008, which clarified that the FCT has the constitutional right to regulate gaming and lottery activities within its boundaries.

    Gbajabiamila promised a regulatory environment built on clarity, stability, and global best practices.

    According to him, the office aims to unlock the economic potential of the gaming sector, while boosting investor confidence and increasing internally generated revenue (IGR) for the FCT.

    “Our priorities include collaboration with the Office of the FCT Minister and the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to ensure proper oversight, fair practices, and prompt revenue remittance,” he said.

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    He further reassured existing operators that all licenses previously issued by the now-defunct National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) remain valid until expiration, and renewal fees remain the same under the new FCT Lottery Regulatory Office.

    Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, praised the initiative as a strategic tool for economic growth.

    He said it aligns with the broader vision of the Wike-led FCT administration to transform Abuja into a world-class capital.

    “Abuja is fast emerging as a major tourist and leisure destination. The gaming sector is a vital piece of that puzzle, with huge potential to attract investment, create jobs, and boost economic activity,” Ango said.

    He emphasised that the collaboration between the IRS and the FCT Lotteries Office will ensure efficient revenue generation and foster a responsible gaming environment that benefits both operators and residents.

    With this development, the FCT is staking its claim as a serious player in Nigeria’s gaming industry, determined to regulate, grow, and profit from a sector long marked by inconsistency and underutilised potential.

  • FCT traffic service confirms sale of number plates by touts

    FCT traffic service confirms sale of number plates by touts

    • Warns against act

    The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday advised  residents not to patronise touts in registering  their vehicles.

    A statement by the Director, DRTS, Abdulateef Bello said: “ The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), wishes to inform the general public that the current scarcity of vehicle number plates in the FCT is due to irregular and insufficient supply from the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) Plant and efforts are ongoing to remedy the situation.

    “We also wish to draw the attention of the motoring public to the activities of fraudsters impersonating DRTS officials in the attempt to take advantage of the situation to exploit vehicle owners.

    “The DRTS firmly disassociates itself from these illegal activities and strongly caution members of the public against dealing with any individual either staff or agent who claim to be in position of number plates outside what is uploaded in the DRTS self-service portal (https://selfservice.fctevreg.com).

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    “Moreover, in order to ensure transparency, the approved costs of number plates and related services are readily available on our official communication platforms, and particularly our website.

    “The Directorate therefore encourages the public to stick and insist on the stipulated prices.

    ‘‘In collaboration with the Security Agencies, the Directorate has intensified efforts to bring these impostors to justice.’’

    “We urge the public to report suspicious individuals or illegal activities to the Management of the DRTS. The DRTS remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering transparent, efficient, and accountable services to the motoring public”.

  • Tinubu’s second anniversary: President to commission projects in area councils – Wike

    Tinubu’s second anniversary: President to commission projects in area councils – Wike

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced his intention to request President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presence in the FCT Area Councils to commission completed infrastructure projects during the celebration of the President’s second year in office.

    Wike disclosed this  at the weekend while addressing reporters shortly after a routine inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects, slated for commissioning in May to commemorate President Tinubu’s second anniversary, across Gwagwalada, Kwali, and Bwari Area Councils of the FCT.

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    The minister expressed optimism that the President’s visit to the FCT Area Councils will strengthen ties with the people at the grassroots, adding that they will also have the opportunity to see their President in person.

    The Minister said: “We are going to work that out, at least he (Mr. President) should be able to go to one of the Area Councils and let the people see that yes, this is their President, not just commissioning roads in the cities.

    “We will plead that he visits at least one or two Area Councils so that the people will be happy that yes, this is their President. We can assure you that he will at least go to Gwagwalada, go to Kwali or Bwari where we have the Law School. We are going to make sure that Mr. President comes to identify with his people”.

    On his assessment of the project sites visited, the FCT Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work observed at various project sites, including the 10km Agoma Palace/Market/Park roads and other internal roads in Gwagwalada Area Council, the 15km A2 to Pai road in Kwali Area Council, as well as the War College/Army Checkpoint and other ancillary roads within the Bwari Area Council.

  • FCT records drop in kidnapping, other crimes in 2024 – FCTA

    FCT records drop in kidnapping, other crimes in 2024 – FCTA

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has witnessed significant progress in the fight against kidnapping, with a year-on-year assessment showing a notable reduction in criminal activities.

    The Director of the Security Services Department, FCT, Adamu Gwary, revealed that the nation’s capital recorded several months without a single incident of kidnapping in 2024, a sharp contrast to 2023 when kidnapping and banditry were at their peak.

    Gwary attributed this success to the unwavering commitment of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to rid the territory of crime, adding that the administration remains determined to sustain these gains.

    Speaking during the end of year press briefing by the department, the Director said: “Before now, you would notice that sometimes on a daily basis, at least weekly, you can hardly see a week pass without having a report of kidnapping. Now, when we check our statistics, you will notice that sometimes a whole month you will not hear of that. 

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    “This is basically due to the measures in place and the magnanimity of the Honorable Minister to support whatever we are doing in ensuring that the security agencies are effectively supported.

    “More of such, all of you are living witness to what the Honorable Minister is doing in terms of provision of security and enhancing the provision of security, particularly at the rural area. So, for now, I can assess that based on the effort in place, the department has done well in terms of ensuring that the security agencies are adequately supported where they need such support, particularly in the rural area.

    “In terms of the performance of the department, as the proverbial saying goes, when a lizard falls from the top of a tree, even if nobody will clap for him, he will clap for himself. Looking at the outgoing year in retrospect, there are a lot of changes that the department does in terms of executing our assigned responsibilities.”

    Gwary also disclosed that the FCTA has introduced monthly statistical data on crime in the FCT, which is forwarded to the office of the Security Adviser for further action and crackdown on criminals.

    He said: “Traditionally, we used to generate a monthly intelligence report, process them, and transmit to the Office of the National Security Advisor for other action. This year, we have done it differently by bringing our statistical information about crime and criminality, the level of success our security agencies achieve in terms of boasting of crime, armed recovery, and other activities of security personnel. So, all those put together are something that we have not been doing in the past.

    “But this time around, we generate such things to ensure that at least it helps the administration in terms of assessing the performance of our security agencies for planning purposes. For instance, when we look at our statistical information to look at what are the crimes that are most prevalent, where the administration will channel its energy toward addressing them. And those are one of the areas at which such statistics have helped the administration in terms of fighting of crime”.

    The director disclosed that the administration has also profiled vigilante groups in the territory to ensure that persons with questionable characters don’t gain access to communities.

    He said: “I remembered that sometime in February, the minister said that vigilante groups will be profiled to ensure that those who provide some of these securities at community level are people that are known by the community members as well as the FCT and other security agencies.”

    Gwary, who revealed that the Administration has collated a compendium of Vigilantes groups in the FCT, said the initiative helps in verifying vigilante personnel.

    He said: “We equally establish a portal at which the department will be communicating with the head of the security, I mean, vigilante group in each of the area councils. And by doing so, we will know who are the organized vigilante group, who and who are not, so that we will see in as much as we are very much aware that this is a self-help project, this is a self-help effort, but it will not just be left for members of the public to just key in into it without being addressed in terms of ensuring that the right people are doing the right thing. So the administration is doing everything possible to ensure that the vigilante group that we are using is known to us.

    “We have the compendium of all the vigilante units at the area council. And each of the units, we encourage them to have a compendium of the vigilantes operating at the world level, which will be transmitted to us. So, all this in the process before the end of the year, we assure you that we will have every single vigilante operating in the federal capital territory being fully documented, even if they are doing it for their own self-help.

    “So, this is the situation, the profiling of vigilantes has been done and we are still doing it because sometimes some of them will either join us or even leave the city.”

  • Growing menace of street begging on federal capital streets

    Growing menace of street begging on federal capital streets

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is renowned for its status as the political and administrative heart of Nigeria. But, beneath the city’s glossy exterior lies a growing, less glamorous phenomenon of street and corporate begging. The unsettling potential security implications of the proliferation of beggars have prompted calls on the authorities and law enforcement agencies to curb the menace and reclaim the streets. NICHOLAS KALU and JULIANA AGBO, write.

    In the last decade, the number of beggars in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has soared, turning what was once a marginal issue into a prominent social concern. While exact figures are unavailable, local non-governmental organisations estimate that the population of street beggars has surged by over 50 per cent in the past five years, becoming a stark and unsettling reality in the heart of Nigeria’s capital.

    The most heart-wrenching victims of this phenomenon are children. Some, as young as five, are forced to navigate the dangerous streets, pleading for help to support their families. These young ones can be seen weaving through congested traffic, their small hands outstretched, eyes wide with hope. For them, education is not a priority but a distant dream, eclipsed by the urgent need to survive.

    Alongside these children are women, often with infants strapped to their backs, and the elderly, who sit by the roadside with expressions that tell stories of profound desperation and neglect. In most cases, they are people with disabilities.

    Apart from people with disabilities who engage in the act of begging, another trend in the FCT is corporate begging. Unlike traditional street beggars, corporate beggars are individuals who, under the guise of seeking employment or business partnerships, resort to begging for financial aid from business executives, public officials and even strangers.

    Dressed in business attire and armed with sophisticated narratives, they blur the lines between genuine need and manipulative solicitation. Their methods are subtle yet strategic. They often approach their targets with a mix of humility and urgency, citing business failures, unpaid bills, or the need for seed capital for a seemingly promising venture. Some even carry documents and business cards to lend credibility to their claims.

    Currently, the trend of begging has extended to market places, religious environment, corporate organisation’s environment, major bus stops, parks and gardens even in public transports. In Abuja, they are seen almost everywhere from the Berger Roundabout to Wuse Market, Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Nyanya, Lugbe, Kubwa, Maitama, Banex Plaza and AYA Roundabout among other area councils in the FCT.

    Each face is a testament to a deeper, systemic socio-economic crisis that extends beyond mere inconvenience.

    Ineffectiveness of policies

    Despite multiple efforts by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to curb street begging, including a ban on the practice, the issue persists.

    In October 2021, the FCTA repatriated 217 beggars and destitute individuals to their home states, including Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi.

    Again, in April 2022, another 150 were removed from the streets for disrupting the peace and order of the city.

    Yet, these measures seem insufficient against the backdrop of rapidly rising numbers. The causes of this increase are rooted in a complex interplay of factors, including economic instability, displacement due to insurgency in the Northeast, and a weakening social safety net.

    Personal stories of struggle and survival

    Each beggar in the FCT has a story that speaks of hardship and resilience. For instance, Aishat Abdullahi fled from Borno State with her three children after her husband was killed by Boko Haram insurgents. With no family to support her and limited job opportunities, she now walks the car parks of Kado fish market, hoping for the kindness of strangers to help her sustain her family.

    Similarly, Isah Yahaya, a teenager from Kano, came to Abuja seeking a better life after his family was displaced from Zamfara due to insecurity and hunger. Yahaya, who hawks kola nuts while begging, uses the little he earns to send money to his family through Point of Sale (POS) agents, as he doesn’t have a bank account.

    These stories are far from unique. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have made their way to the capital, only to find themselves in a similar plight, struggling to survive in a city that offers little reprieve from their suffering.

    Factors driving increase of street beggars

    Experts have identified a combination of factors contributing to the rapid increase in street begging. Gloria Joseph, an expert in social issues, explained that as the cost of living rises and job opportunities diminish, people are left with few choices other than to beg on the streets. “For many, it has become a last resort,” she noted.

    Human rights activist Gideon Obulu highlighted the impact of economic hardships on people’s daily lives. He stated: “Street begging has become a way of life for many simply to survive.” He shared personal experiences from the marketplace, where individuals approach shoppers, not asking for money but for basic food items like garri, rice, salt, or seasonings to feed their families.

    However, these experts are also concerned about the potential security implications of the situation. They warn that the growing desperation could lead to more serious problems, with the possibility of street beggars resorting to violence or other criminal activities in order to survive.

     A growing security menace

    While the practice is often seen as a harmless act of desperation, it has evolved into a significant security concern, particularly at night in the nation’s capital.

    In most cases, they have now become a threat to the safety and security of residents and their property. It appears the allure of easy money has also attracted individuals with criminal intent, transforming the practice into a lucrative venture.

    In some areas in the country’s capital, one of the most alarming developments is the increasing aggression exhibited by some of the street beggars. Residents have complained of harassment and this behaviour, often fueled by desperation or a sense of entitlement, contributes to a climate of fear and anxiety among residents.

    The nighttime hours have become particularly dangerous. Beggars, operating under the cover of darkness, have been known to target unsuspecting individuals and vehicles. They have been involved in incidents of robbery, assault, and even attempted kidnapping.

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    The vulnerability of individuals walking alone or driving late at night makes them prime targets for these criminal activities. The security implications of street begging extend beyond individual safety. The presence of large numbers of beggars on the streets can create a sense of lawlessness and disorder. This can deter potential investors and tourists, negatively impacting the city’s economic development.

    Social observers believe the concentration of beggars in certain areas contributes to the proliferation of other criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and prostitution in the city.

    “The truth is that most of them, especially the younger ones, get involved with drugs and may acquire weapons with which they attack residents. As I speak with you, in so many areas in Abuja today you cannot slow down for a traffic light in the evening. You would most likely be attacked and the bulk of these criminals are these beggars who want to do more than just beg,” Dangiwa Musa, a resident in Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, said.

    There’s also a growing concern that the beggars may pose a significant terrorist threat. The increasing number of beggars, often unchecked and unverified, creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by terrorist organisations, security experts fear.

    Recent global events have shown that terrorists often disguise themselves as vulnerable individuals, including beggars, to carry out devastating attacks such as suicide bombings. The tactic, known as “human camouflage,” allows terrorists to blend in and gather intelligence before striking.

    In Abuja, the proliferation of beggars, experts believe, may serve as a Trojan horse for terrorists seeking to test the city’s security waters. These individuals, often seemingly harmless, can gather intelligence on high-value targets, identify security vulnerabilities and conduct reconnaissance for potential attack sites.

    The risk is heightened by the fact that many beggars are unknown persons, with unclear backgrounds and motivations. This anonymity provides an attractive cover for terrorists seeking to infiltrate and launch attacks.

    Security experts warn that the presence of beggars in strategic locations, such as high-traffic areas like markets, bus stops, stations, government institutions and public gathering may indicate a reconnaissance phase, precursor to a more significant threat.

    The proliferation of beggars may also serve as a test run for larger attacks, they posit. According to them, by studying the public’s response to the presence of beggars, terrorists can gauge the level of security and vigilance in different areas. This information can then be used to plan more sophisticated attacks, they said.

    To mitigate this risk, they advise that authorities must implement robust screening and verification processes for beggars, enhance intelligence gathering and sharing among security agencies, increase surveillance in high-risk areas, conduct regular sweeps and patrols to deter suspicious activity and collaborate with local communities to report suspicious behaviour.

    They also advise that authorities could regulate begging activities by, for instance, establishing designated areas for beggars and increasing surveillance in areas with high concentrations of beggars. Additionally, they advise that the public should be encouraged to report suspicious activities to the authorities.

    A security source, who did not want to be named, said law enforcement agencies are taking a proactive stance against street begging, especially as it pertains to the safety of the populace.

    “While it is important to treat beggars with compassion and understanding, those who engage in criminal behaviour must face the consequences of their actions. This includes the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in robbery, assault, and other violent crimes. While we expect the social agencies saddled with the responsibility of catering for such situations to do their jobs, we would not stand idly by and watch anyone perpetuate crime. Anyone who engages in any criminal activity, no matter who it is, must face the law accordingly. The security agencies are on high alert to ensure the safety and security of citizens from any quarter,” he said.

    Curbing the menace

    The phenomenon of street begging in the FCT has evolved into a serious security threat. The increasing aggression and criminal activities exhibited by some beggars pose a significant risk to the safety and well-being of residents.

    Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying causes of poverty, strengthens law enforcement efforts, raises public awareness, and promotes sustainable solutions. By taking decisive action, the FCT can reclaim its streets and create a safer environment for all its citizens.

    An Abuja resident, Gideon Assam, offers his thoughts on how the issue can be addressed. According to him, people, except in extremely rare cases, do not desire a life of begging or criminality. He said many are pushed into it especially due to the prevailing economic situation of the environment.

    “Addressing the issue of street begging requires a comprehensive approach. First and foremost, there is a need to address the root causes of poverty and unemployment. This involves creating job opportunities, improving access to education, and providing social safety nets for vulnerable individuals.

    “There is a need to raise awareness about the dangers associated with street begging. Public service announcements and educational campaigns can help to inform residents about the risks and encourage them to take precautions.

    “Also, the government and civil society organisations should work together to develop sustainable solutions to the problem of street begging. This may involve establishing rehabilitation centers, providing vocational training, and promoting alternative livelihoods,” he said.

    Efforts to reach the Director of Social Welfare Services Department of the FCTA over the matter, as at the time of going to the press, didn’t yield result.

  • Abuja metro rail cuts city transportation cost

    Abuja metro rail cuts city transportation cost

    The Abuja metro rail service has cut the cost of transportation for residents and visitors, write GBENGA OMOKHUNU and FAITH YAHAYA

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is known for its huge modern construction and fast-growing population. With urbanisation comes the inevitable challenge of traffic congestion and the need for efficient public transportation hence, FCT dwellers are daily searching for alternatives to reduce cost of transportation in and around the city.

    However, the Abuja Light Rail has brought succor to residents, marking an important breakthrough in Nigeria’s journey towards modern urban transit solutions. Already, Abuja residents and visitors are taking advantage of the free Abuja Metro Rails.

    The rail links 13 communities with 12 stations, including the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba 1 and 2, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Airport, Gwagwa Dei-Dei, Kagini and Gbazango. Our correspondents took a ride through the communities and stations to share residents’ and visitors’ feelings when they are on the free rail.

    The 35-minute train ride from Abuja’s Metro Station in the bustling Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport offers a refreshing perspective on Nigeria, even for the most doubtful. Happy families enjoying a free excursion, giggling teenagers and the idyllic landscapes on either side of the tracks reveal the often unseen and underappreciated beauty of the FCT. For those returning from the airport, the cleanliness, smooth ride and high-tech security measures enhance the pleasure of re-entering the capital city.

    At the launch of the country’s ambitious $8.3 billion rail project on November 30, 2006, erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo underscored the government’s commitment to expand intermodal and multimodal transport services, aiming to leverage the strengths of each system. However, year after year, this grand vision made only modest progress.

    The Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT), also known as the Metro Line, was developed in six phases and funded by loans from the China EXIM Bank. The Obasanjo administration awarded the contract in 2007, while former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated it on July 12, 2018.

    Although trial operations were set to commence from September 2018 to March 2020, the project stalled soon after Buhari’s commissioning due to vandalism, low public patronage and other challenges.

    With his policy trust, ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ President Bola Tinubu’s administration pledged several transformations aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a prime global investment destination and positively impacting citizens’ lives.

    As part of these efforts, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, inaugurated the ARMT system as part of the celebrations marking President Tinubu’s first year in office. A delighted Wike described the inauguration as a practical demonstration of the government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’

    It may be noted that despite the Metro Line Rehabilitation contract being awarded at $30 million in 2018, funds were not released until President Tinubu assumed office. In September 2023, Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant-General of the Federation to facilitate action by the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Limited, towards completing the project.

    As a result, the 12 train stations with car parks were constructed at the cost of N21.4 billion. Additionally, Wike renegotiated the $128 million earmarked for manpower training by the previous administration down to $75 million, saving taxpayers $53 million. The ARMT system now boasts 12 diesel multiple units, each capable of transporting approximately 1000 passengers.

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    Designed for a minimum of 14 trips per day, the system can transport around 9,800 passengers daily. No doubt, this development marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s journey towards an integrated and efficient transportation network, fulfilling a long-awaited dream.

    On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, President Tinubu inaugurated the re-launch of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) commercial operations with a heartening announcement.

    Originally promised a two-month period of free rides by Wike, commuters have been enjoying complimentary train rides for six months with the declaration of President Tinubu which will end December 31, 2024.

    A Travel Agent, Stephen Oketunde, lauded the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for introducing the free train ride. But like Oliver Twist, he appealed that the frequency of the trips be increased to control crowds and also save time.

    Oketunde said: “The experience is worth it. It started on May 29th this year and I started following the train a month after. It has been worth it I must confess. It has helped me save some money since it is free for now.

    “The government has done well. We would appreciate it if they could increase the frequency. It would be a lot easier and appreciated if the number of trips increased to enable those who want to get to the office to arrive early. Currently, the first train takes off at 7:30 and I get to the office some minutes after 9:00 a.m.

    “If we get a train that leaves by 6:30 am, that will reduce the crowd we currently witness. I usually stop at Metro to connect to my office.”

    He also suggested that the government should collaborate with road transport workers to have buses deployed to each of the stations.

    He said: “Deploying buses will reduce the time spent in getting out of the station to look for vehicles going our route. If vehicles are on the ground and we are charged stipends, it will make the process seamless.”

    Obinna Okoro, a businessman who was heading to Deidei also shared his experience with Abuja Review. “I am a businessman at Deidei International Market. For now, I have enjoyed this, and I hope this will continue. I thank God for using Mr. President to introduce this free ride. If it continues, it will help us because the cost of transportation is no longer easy and affordable anymore. From my house to the station is N500, but if I board a car, I will stop at different points to look for a vehicle, Keke or bike. This process consumes time and money. With this initiative, I save nothing less than N1, 200 daily, which is a lot of money considering the present economy.

    Tayo Azeez, who works at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, described the free train ride as one of the achievements of the present administration. He said he admires the prompt nature of the train service as it helps him to plan.

    “They keep to time and everything is fine. It eases lots of transportation issues. I have been using it for the past month, and it is quite interesting because my route is at the airport and I normally use it. With the cost of fuel and other factors, the train is very good and a lifesaver. I think it is one of the good achievements of the Federal Government because the masses who use the train are smiling,” Azeez said.

    Another employee at the station described the commencement of train operation as a means of empowerment and job creation for her. The personnel, who wanted to be addressed as Princess, said: “I used to be an online vendor; I sell nightwear and other things online. The station is at the back of my house and I decided to take a ride on the train. After taking the ride, I asked around if there was a vacancy, but they said they were not aware. I was very desperate for a job because my business was not moving as I expected; people hardly patronize me these days because people are looking for money to eat rather than buy nightwear. After going through the interview process, I was offered the job.”

    A Mason, Muktar Abubakar had his bag hung on his neck. The bag with an obviously bad zipper displayed his hammer and other tools. He boarded the train in the company of his colleagues, who appeared to be going for similar jobs at a building site. His colleagues were carrying buckets, shovels, plastering tools, brick hammers, masonry tape measure and other tools, indicating they were heading to work in a building site. He shared his experience with Abuja Review that: “I live in Kuje and I joined the train from the airport. I am heading to Gbazango for a job. By 3:00 p.m., I will take the train back to the airport. If I did not use the train, I would spend nothing less than N2000 to get to Gbazango from Kuje, but now, I only spend N500 to get to the station. So, I have saved about N3, 000 that would have been used on transportation. So, the only days I spend money on transportation are weekends when the free train ride does not operate. So, I don’t spend money on transportation from Monday to Friday. Indeed, President Tinubu and Wike are working.”

    One of the officials of ARMT at Idu station, Bakare Abdulaziz, gave an insight into the passenger traffic, security situation, and other issues officials of the train service have gone through since the commencement of the free train ride.

    He said: “Before the hike in fuel, daily, we used to have about 1,600 arrivals depending on the day of the week and about N1,400 departures. We have observed that departure is always lower than arrival. Ever since the issue of fuel hikes, the traffic has been high to the extent that in a day, most especially Mondays to Wednesdays, we record about 4,000 passengers daily. On Thursday, we had about 3,680 altogether. So, the train is helping people.

    “We move four times daily; twice in the morning and twice between afternoons and evenings.”

    On the need to increase the number of coaches to accommodate more passengers and adjust the train schedule, he said: “This type of train is just to pick up passengers and go; it is not meant to carry cargoes and other things.