News
Corporate begging rises in Abuja due to economic hardship
A new breed of beggars known as “Corporate Beggars” is now on the rise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to increased economic hardship.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reports that the corporate beggars had now taken begging as a means of livelihood as it gives them more income than having to do regular jobs.
The beggars usually hang around residential buildings, shopping malls, bus stops, religious centres, hospitals, markets, roadsides and offices.
One of such beggar at the Banex plaza, Mrs Hauwa Baba, said that she had taken to begging to enable her feed her family.
“I have to beg to feed my sick husband and my six children. Times are hard, we feed once in two days, no money to buy my husband’s drugs because he is diabetic.
“ I used to work in a private firm but they reduced their staff strength due to the current economic situation in the country, and getting another job have been difficult.
“I have no choice but to beg as it is better than stealing,” Baba said.
According to Baba, even if she gets another job now, she will have to consider if the job favoured her more before she can quit begging.
Mr Habib Ibrahim, a beggar at Wuse market said that most of them begged because they had no other means of livelihood.
“I have been begging for over nine years in different locations in Abuja, I am married and blessed with nine children.
“I use the money I get to feed and train my children in school, they go to school during the week and they join me in begging at weekends, we share ourselves to different locations,” he said.
Ibrahim who said that he used to make over N200, 000 monthly, however, said he barely made up to N100,000 this days due to the economic hardship in the country.
“Due to the current economic hardship , I now make between N90,000 and N100,000 monthly. This is the only thing I know how to do and it pays me more than getting a job.
”I know when workers receive their salaries, and that is the time I go to government offices. Every season has its location,” he said.
Ibrahim said he always dresses well and neat to enable his clients give him audience when he approaches them with his sad tales.
According to him, most Nigerians are not moved and are usually not ready to help when they do not hear sad tales from you on why you are on the streets.
Another beggar, Uche Ray, said that begging paid his bills, adding that he earned up to N5, 000 and above on a daily basis through begging.
“I did not choose to beg but the economy turned me into one.
“I used to work in a factory but after the fuel subsidy removal the company left the country and made me jobless, I have people who depend on me, that was how I started begging.
”If I get a good job I may stop begging, but for now, this pays the bills,” Ray said.
A beggar with disability, Aisha Sariki, said she was born blind into a large family.
Sariki said because of her condition, people were always willing to help her and this made her adopt beggingto support her family.
“My family now depends on what I make from the business. We feed and send some of my siblings to school and some of my other siblings take turns to move me to different locations to beg.
“But I will love to be enrolled into
school of the blind for the sake of my future too,” Sariki said.
NAN reports that some beggars now prey on the sympathy of unsuspecting Nigerians who find it difficult to distinguish between genuine requests from beggars who cook up stories in order for people to have pity on them.
They trick people into giving them money, citing personal challenges or family problems such as the inability to pay medical bills, school fees, and house rent.
Sometimes, some of them even claim they are stranded with no money to continue their journey, just so you can give them money.
A victim,,Hajiya Ummi Umar, said that after her encounter with a corporate beggar at a hospital in Zone 3, she swore never to fall for their tricks again.
“A well-dressed lady stopped me and we exchanged pleasantries, and she enquired if I can help her buy some drugs for her child who is on admission.
“I pitied her because she was almost crying and I asked for the cost of the drug after which I transferred N20,000 to her.
“Few days later, the same lady approached me at the federal secretariat, using the same trick and I explained to her that we had met , only for her to say bad market and walked away.
“These so called beggars prey on the empathy of human beings because they know that out of 10 people, six may be willing to help,” she said.
Umar said the beggars were always ready with tales of stolen wallets, sick child or the like and strike their victims once they were given listening ears.
“They look out for people riding in SUVs, official cars, or those who are well dressed. Once you respond to their greetings politely, they strike.
“I used to pay their transportation before I realised it was a group of people who do it every day, they beg on their way to and from their locations,” she said.
A businessman, Emeka Mark, said that he was used to them and the lies they tell to exploit innocent citizens, who they end up earning more than.
“Its either they need money for food, transportation, hospital bills or drugs among others.”
Meanwhile, a civil servant, Hajiya Hauwa Abdulaziz, said that begging used to be for the vulnerable, but now so many fake or lazy people have decided to use it as a form of business.
“I will still encourage people to help beggars because it is a good attribute and God loves givers. Givers also never lack, so just do it for the sake of God,” Abdulaziz said.
NAN reports that many people with disabilities as well as the less privileged beg as a source of livelihood.
It was mostly for those unable to fend for themselves who reach out to people, who in return grant them help in either monetary form, food or clothing.
But presently, as the economy bites harder, corporate beggars are on the streets, people who don’t have any form of disability, able bodied individuals who can work have resolved to beg for various reasons. (NAN)
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.