The Nation Newspaper

Tag: street begging

  • Street begging: A call for action

    Street begging: A call for action

    • By Usman Muhammad Salihu

    Sir: Street begging has become widespread across various cities in our country, particularly in the northern states, where they constitute a nuisance. They approach motorists during traffic delays, creating disturbances along major highways. A significant contributing factor to this issue is the economic downturn, resulting in the closure of industries and factories, leaving many without alternative means of livelihood.

    Some otherwise able-bodied individuals have been known to opt for begging rather than engaging in profitable ventures, preferring an easy life over work. This phenomenon is exacerbated by factors such as poverty, illiteracy, and societal influences that fail to provide proper orientation.

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    Addressing the street begging menace requires a collaborative effort from the government, society, and other organizations. Legislation should be enacted to penalize able-bodied individuals found begging, while those with disabilities should receive appropriate care. Improving the economy is crucial, through the reopening of closed industries and the establishment of new ones to combat unemployment. Revitalizing the agricultural sector can offer additional job opportunities, reducing the number of youths resorting to begging.

    By implementing and sustaining these measures, the street begging menace can be effectively curbed and eventually eradicated from our society.

    •Usman Muhammad Salihu,

    Jos.

  • Lagos reiterates zero tolerance to street begging

    Worried by the alarming rate of street begging and its negative impact within the state, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri has reiterated the stance for zero tolerance on street begging.

    Agboola said this at a meeting held with Stakeholders on curbing the menace of street begging in Lagos.

    According to him available, statistics indicates that despite the law enforcement agencies’ efforts at curbing the menace, beggars had become recalcitrant and they sometimes engage in criminal activities while parading as beggars.

    According to him, the facilities which the government built to serve as transit home for rescued beggars and destitute is over stretched, hence, the urgent need for stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    Justice Kazeem Alogba said there is need to amend the law that prohibits street begging, whereby the givers and beggars as well as their suspected godfathers are made to face a stiffer penalty if caught.

    The judge pointed out that begging is not accepted even in the Holy Quran, as people who want money should work for it.

    Spokesperson of the Arewa Community, Alhaji Kabiru thanked the State Government for her warmth reception since their settlement in the state 173 years ago.

    Alhaji Kabiru said the community would ensure strict compliance and live within the laws of Lagos State.

  • Almajiri is unIslamic, says Sultan

    Almajiri is unIslamic, says Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jema’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has declared street begging by children, popularly known as Almajiri, unIslamic.
    He has therefore charged the government, particularly at the state level to rise to their responsibilities of ensuring welfare of every citizen.
    The Sultan stated these in Kaduna on Sunday while presiding over the pre-Ramadan meeting of JNI’s Central Committee, held at the JNI headquarters.
    The event is an annual meeting meant to set modalities and guidelines for moon sighting and general muslims conduct in the holy month.
    Delivering his opening remarks, the Sultan said, the meeting would be discussing issues that affect Muslims and Islam in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
    While disclosing that, the issue of Almajiri would be among the challenges to address at the meeting, the Sultan said, “Almajiri does not represent Islam, but hunger and poverty”.
    According to him, “Almajiri system of begging is not representing Islam and must therefore be distinguished from Islam. Islam encourages scholarship and entrepreneurship and frowns at laziness and idleness as exemplified by itinerant Almajiri.
    “Therefore attempt, must be made to stop the practice Almajiri system of begging among Muslim faithfuls,” he said.
    While noting that hunger and poverty were responsible for children begging on the streets, the Sultan charged the government, particularly at the state level to prioritise welfare of their citizens to address hunger and poverty.
    He also charged the state governments to strengthen institution of ‘Zakkat’ and endowment to address wanton poverty.
    Prominent traditional rulers and Islamic scholars were in attendance at the meeting.

  • Beggars, El-Rufai reach truce on street begging

    Beggars, El-Rufai reach truce on street begging

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and beggars in the state on Tuesday reached a truce on the recent ban on street begging and hawking.

    Beggars who at the weekend took to the streets in protest of the ban and threatened to drag the government to court over the matter however agreed to sheath their sword and give up begging.

    This development followed the governor’s visit to the Kano Road beggars’ colony and Kaduna State Rahabilitation Centre Tuesday.

    According to the El-Rufai, the government has concluded arrangement to rehabilitate and train beggars on various skills.

    El-Rufai maintained that, the interest of a group who think they have the right to beg for alms cannot override the security of over eight million people living in Kaduna State.

    The governor who earlier visited the state own rehabilitation centre in Kakuri area of the state said, the centre which has the capacity to house and train 500 physically challenged will soon be rehabilitated and used for training of the beggars affected by the recent ban.

    He however clarified that, no beggar will be repatriated on the ground that they are not indegenes of Kaduna State, adding that anyone resident in Kaduna will be given equal opportunity under his administration.

    “There is no going back on the ban of street begging, but we are not going to repatriate anybody. The problem is here and we will solve it here,” he said.

    El-Rufai also promised the beggars at the Kano Road Beggars Colony to acquire a land close to the colony to build a training centre for them

    Meanwhile, Head of the beggars in the state, Abdullahi Samaila while responding to the governor commended him for visiting them and promised to cooperate with him.

    He said, it was not that they derive pleasure in begging

  • Why I banned street begging, hawking -El-Rufai

    Why I banned street begging, hawking -El-Rufai

    •Beggars threaten to sue governor

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday said the recent ban on street begging and hawking was for the safety of beggars, hawkers and others following suicide attack that rocked Sabon Gari Local Government secretariat.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the governor’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, explained that, the ban of hawking and begging was necessitated by security situation in the state and to ensure maximum protection of lives and property.

    El-Rufai, who expressed sadness over the Sabon Gari attack, said he will never unleash pains on beggars and hawkers in the state, adding that government decision was not aimed or targeted at the vulnerable group but to protect citizens.

    However, the beggars yesterday took their case to the Kaduna State Council secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ). They said the governor’s ban is a gentle way of calling them terrorists hence the need to take legal action against the governor for defamation and to seek redress.

    But the governor appealed to the people to see reason with the ban and cooperate with the government for the safety of citizens in the state.

    According to him, “Kaduna State Government’s decision to ban hawking and begging in the state followed last week’s bomb attack that killed 26 innocent citizens and injured 32 persons.”

    The special assistant said “the government is a responsible government and conscious of its constitutional role to protect citizens and to ensure law and order for common good. The state government will not fold its arms and allowed citizens to be killed via terror act and break down of law and order hence the decision”

    The beggars dared the governor saying they will remain on the streets, until the government gets them gainful employment.

    They insist they have the constitutional right to stay wherever they wish to stay saying until their demands are met, the government should prepare their graves that they would fight the battle to the finish.

    The beggars who thronged out in their numbers, both men and women, old and young, said they are giving the authorities three days to rescind its decision or risk been victims of spell they would profess against them.