"Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike must immediately withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja, or face legal action. No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.
The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has declared as unlawful a threat to arrest beggars in Abuja, calling on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to immediately withdraw it or face legal action.
"Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike must immediately withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja, or face legal action. No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.
"No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status," the non-profit organisation said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
SERAP advised Wike that rather than arresting and cracking down on the beggars, he should provide them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into society while respecting their dignity and human rights.
"Mr Wike should immediately begin to address the root causes of poverty and the violations of economic and social rights of particularly marginalised persons in Abuja.
"Mr Wike must address the plight of those experiencing homelessness and those living in poverty in Abuja and not demonise and criminalise them," the statement partly read.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Minister of the FCT minister, Wike, had given street beggars in Abuja five days to vacate the city.
The ultimatum, announced on Tuesday, during the launch of a new access road project in Katampe District, aimed to address what Wike described as a national embarrassment.
Speaking at the ceremony for the construction of a road connecting Ring Road 1 to the Judges’ Quarters, Wike emphasised the urgency of removing beggars from the capital's streets.
He had declared that President Bola Tinubu’s government would take decisive action against those who remain after the Sunday deadline.
"Allowing beggars in every nook and cranny of the territory is an embarrassment to the government and the country," Wike had said, urging families to take responsibility for their relatives who rely on street begging.
He had added that the FCT Administration was preparing to enforce the new directive starting from next week.
BREAKING: Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike must immediately withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja, or face legal action. No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) October 23, 2024