Residents hit Wike for rejecting rehabilitation camp for destitute

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have condemned the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for rejecting a proposal from Senator Ali Ndume, to set up a functional centre where destitute on the streets of Abuja can  be moved to and rehabilitated.

The Minister had dismissed a proposal by Senator Ali Ndume to establish rehabilitation camps for beggars and displaced persons in Abuja, stating that such a programme is not possible under the current structure of the FCT.

The exchange took place in the Senate when Wike was defending the FCT Administration’s proposed N1.78 trillion budget for 2025. During the interactive session, Senator Ndume raised concerns over the rising presence of displaced individuals and street beggars in the city.

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“It is not enough to just drive them away or arrest them,” Ndume said. “What the FCT needs to do is what different governments like Kano State have done since the 1970s. Create a kind of camp where they can be taken off the streets, fed, and trained.

“Before someone comes out to beg, it means they have nothing to eat. Provide them with short vocational training, then they can go back and do something meaningful with their lives.”

Wike, however, responded that the FCT was not structured like a ‘state’ and could not implement such a model.

“This is the Federal Capital Territory. The way things are done in Kano or other states cannot be applied here,” Wike said. “Some of these people are not even indigenous to Abuja, they come from different parts of the country. In fact, some are not willing to stop begging. That’s the simple truth. Even if you help them, they will still return to the streets.”

Senator Ali Ndume responded, emphasising national unity: “That does not matter, because they are all Nigerians.”

Following Wike’s comments, Abuja residents and stakeholders expressed strong disapproval. Many viewed the FCT Minister’s remarks as dismissive and lacking empathy for some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.

Ahmad Abubakar disagrees with Wike.

He said, “Instead of thinking of solutions, he is giving excuses. These are fellow Nigerians who are suffering, and it is the government’s duty to help them,” he said. “Saying they are not indigenous or that they will still return to the streets is a poor excuse. A proper plan and support system can work if the government is committed.”

Daniel Akintokunbo, said “Wike’s statement is callous. He should be thinking about how to solve the problem, not why it can’t be solved. Ndume’s proposal is humane and constructive. The FCT has the resources to implement such a programme, and dismissing it shows Wike’s lack of leadership,” Akintokunbo said.

Ibrahim Suleiman argued that the FCT’s inability to address street begging reflects a failure of governance.

“Instead of offering solutions, Wike is shutting down ideas that can actually make a difference. His claim that people don’t want to stop begging is baseless. Many of these people are victims of poverty and circumstances,” Suleiman said. “It’s the government’s job to provide them with opportunities and support.”

Hauwa Sani, another resident said, “you can’t just blame these people for begging. The government should create opportunities for them to improve their lives,” Hauwa said. “Refusing to help is not a solution. Even if some refuse to change, many others would benefit from a supportive programme.”

Another resident who craved anonymity said, “Street begging in Abuja is a serious problem, and simply ignoring it will not make it disappear. If the FCT cannot handle it alone, then they should partner with NGOs and community groups. Just dismissing it outrightly is not leadership.”

More residents argued that Wike’s rejection of the proposal is a missed opportunity for the FCT Administration to tackle Abuja’s worsening welfare crisis.

Aliyu Ibrahim, said, “The problem of street begging in Abuja might be tough to solve, but not impossible.”

He added that states like Kano have shown that, with the right approach, such initiatives can work, even though the FCT’s structure is different. The FCT must only make sure they sustain it and that attention is given to it.

Yusuf Muhammad believes that although establishing rehabilitation camps may be challenging, it is possible if the FCT Administration is willing to make the effort. “The only real concern is sustainability, as Wike pointed out,” he said. “But if they think the FCT can’t handle it, then it just means they’re not ready to actually do it. They can if they want to.”

Asiya Ado Zakari, a student, said that “dismissing Senator Ndume’s proposal shows a complete disregard for the welfare of the most vulnerable people in Abuja, the FCT Administration should be looking for ways to bring an end to it”

However, Laurah Mahuta, another resident, has a contrary view. She said, “We need to really look at this issue from another perspective, yes, social welfare is the duty of the government to its people, but is it something that can actually happen?” she asked. “I know not just one but many beggars around the Lugbe axis who have spent most of their lives on the streets. Some of them simply refuse to leave.”

Muhammad Hadi, a retired civil servant, also supported Wike’s position, describing the proposal as impractical and difficult to sustain.

He said, “Some of these people are not even Nigerians. They come from neighboring countries like Niger. It’s not easy to just take them off the streets.

“If a programme like that cannot be sustained, why starting it? What should happen is proper profiling. They should be identified, checked for where they come from, and possibly repatriated. That is the only thing that can work. Some will never stop begging. Even in Kano, when such a programme was tried, some ran away from the camps and returned to the streets.”

What happened to the FCT rehabilitation centre at Kuchiko-Bwari?

The debate over rehabilitation camps also brought attention back to the FCT Rehabilitation and Training Centre at Kuchiko area in the Bwari Area Council.

A visit by Abuja Metro to the centre revealed its deteriorating state. Once envisioned as a facility to rehabilitate and reintegrate beggars and destitutes, the centre has fallen into neglect.

Its principal, Bala Tsoho Musa, was murdered under unclear circumstances, and since then, the facility has been reduced to a mere holding area for those rounded up from Abuja’s streets.

Residents of the area and even some inmates expressed frustration over the lack of resources, poor accommodation, inadequate feeding, and weak security at the centre.

An official of the FCT Social Development Secretariat, who craved anonymity, said there has been a plan to completely overhaul the centre and effectively put it into use.

He said the Secretariat was expecting approval from the FCT Administration for such an upgrade and that once that is secured, work would commence at the centre.