The Federal Capital Territory Administration has intensified efforts to sanitise Abuja, removing no fewer than 607 beggars and vulnerable persons from major roads and public spaces across the city.
Officials said the renewed enforcement drive is part of a broader strategy to improve public safety, restore urban order, and discourage street activities that expose residents to security risks.
According to the FCT Social Development Secretariat, the removals were carried out between July 2025 and now under the ongoing Operation Sweep Abuja Clean initiative.
The Head of Enforcement at the secretariat, Ukachi Adebayo, disclosed that the majority of those evacuated were street beggars, alongside individuals living with mental health challenges.
“In total, 583 were identified as beggars, while 23 others were persons with mental health conditions who clearly required care rather than street exposure,” Adebayo said.
She explained that the affected individuals were not simply picked up and abandoned, stressing that counselling and documentation formed a critical part of the process.
“Each person is profiled and advised before being handed over to their respective state liaison offices for onward rehabilitation and reintegration,” she added.
However, officials admitted that the problem remains persistent, as many of those evacuated often find their way back to Abuja’s streets.
“Some are fleeing insecurity or hardship in their home states, but we cannot allow the capital to become a refuge for unchecked street begging,” Adebayo noted, adding that enforcement would continue.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over the growing involvement of children in organised street begging.
Acting Director of Social Welfare at the secretariat, Gloria Onwuka, revealed that investigations have uncovered networks that transport children from other states to Abuja solely for begging.
“Begging has unfortunately evolved into a business model. Some individuals bring children who are not even theirs, collect the money, and return them later,” Onwuka said.
She described the practice as exploitative, warning that many families are unaware that their children are being used for such activities.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the FCTA Command and Control Centre, Peter Olumuji, said the operation is a coordinated security effort involving multiple agencies.
He explained that the initiative was approved by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to tackle street begging, scavenging, and related activities that threaten the city’s security architecture.
“Beggars are not just a social issue; some act as informants for criminal networks, while others expose themselves to kidnapping and ritual-related crimes,” Olumuji said.
He added that unchecked street presence also undermines Abuja’s image as the nation’s capital.
“This city is meant to reflect order and safety. Allowing uncontrolled street activities sends the wrong signal,” he said.
The latest operation builds on earlier directives issued by the minister, who had warned that Abuja was gradually being overwhelmed by street beggars.
Wike had insisted that the crackdown was necessary to ensure residents and visitors feel safe at all times.
“Our priority is security. Abuja must remain a city where people can move freely and sleep without fear,” the minister had said.
Authorities insist the enforcement will remain continuous, with renewed monitoring to ensure beggars and other miscreants do not return to the streets.