Dare Babalola
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered street beggars/traders, one-chance syndicates, scavengers miscreants and other social nuisances to vacate Abuja and the Satellite Towns in the FCT.
This order was contained in a statement signed by Lere Olayinka, the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media on Wednesday.
Code-named, “Operation Sweep Abuja of miscreants, street beggars/traders, scavengers and other criminal elements,” the minister vowed that the operation, which has commenced with put an end to all social nuisances in the territory.
The statement read, “In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act, and other relevant laws, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has directed the immediate evacuation of miscreants, street beggars and traders, scavengers and other criminal elements from the FCT.
“Our nation’s capital should be a secure symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements.
“To achieve this, a Joint Task Force, comprising security agencies and relevant FCT SDAs has been deployed to apprehend any persons found begging, scavenging, loitering or engaging in other acts inimical to the well-being of the residents. Arrangements have been made to profile them and hand them over to their home state governments.”
He also called on citizens and residents of the FCT to join hands with the authorities to fight insecurity in the area to “achieve a safer Abuja”.
