The House of Representatives has raised alarm over the growing menace of street begging and the Almajiri system in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with lawmakers expressing concern about the lack of sustainable solutions to address the issue.
This follows a motion adopted on Wednesday to probe the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) social protection programs and evaluate the state of its rehabilitation center for street beggars and Almajiris in Bwari Area Council.
The motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Abuja Rehabilitation Centre and the Social Protection Programmes of the FCT,” was sponsored by Bashiru Dawodu, the representative for Oshodi-Isolo 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos State.
Dawodu highlighted the FCTA’s previous attempts to tackle the problem, including a crackdown declared on October 22, 2024, aimed at reducing street begging in the capital.
The initiative was part of efforts to improve the image of Abuja and enhance security in the city.
Despite these efforts, Dawodu noted that street begging remains a persistent issue, particularly among individuals with disabilities, and is exacerbated by factors such as poverty, unemployment, the Almajiri system, and internal displacement.
He pointed out that although successive FCTA administrations have employed law enforcement to arrest, prosecute, or repatriate beggars since 2003, these measures have only yielded temporary results, with beggars reappearing in new locations.
Dawodu also criticized the current approach, emphasizing that the FCTA’s only semi-functional rehabilitation center in Bwari, which is underfunded and provides substandard services, is insufficient to address the issue.
He stressed that a comprehensive, long-term solution is needed, including effective rehabilitation programs, monthly survival allowances for beggars, Almajiri feeding initiatives, and proper resettlement plans for internally displaced persons.
“If the lack of adequate funding and ineffective social protection programs persist, street begging will remain an intractable problem,” Dawodu warned, calling for a more sustainable approach to addressing the root causes of begging and Almajiri-related issues.
In response to Dawodu’s motion, the House of Representatives mandated its Committee on Disabilities to conduct an investigation into the state of the Abuja Rehabilitation Centre and the FCTA’s social protection initiatives.
The committee has been instructed to report back within four weeks with recommendations for further legislative action.
The decision comes as part of the legislature’s ongoing efforts to address critical social issues facing the capital city and ensure that government policies effectively support vulnerable populations, including the disabled and displaced individuals.