From Umar Dankano, Yola
The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has strongly condemned the recent threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Nyesom Wike, to evict beggars from the streets of Abuja within a week.
The group, in a press statement titled *”A Call for Responsible Governance and Humanitarian Treatment”*, urged the Minister to reconsider his approach, highlighting that many of those on the streets of the FCT are displaced victims of insecurity from various northern states.
In the statement issued Thursday by the group’s Convener, Dr. Umar Ardo, the LND emphasized that while maintaining order in the capital is important, the underlying reasons behind why these individuals are on the streets must not be ignored.
Most of them, it noted, are victims of violence and insecurity, who have fled their communities due to banditry, insurgency, and economic hardship caused by ineffective government policies.
“Many of these displaced persons are from northern states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, and Borno, where violence and insecurity have rendered life unbearable. Among them are widows and orphans who have been left destitute due to the failure of both local and federal authorities to provide adequate protection and welfare support,” the statement read.
Dr. Ardo further explained that Abuja has become a refuge for these vulnerable groups, particularly women who have been widowed by violence and children left orphaned and helpless. He appealed to the Minister to adopt a more compassionate stance, in line with Nigeria’s core value of being “our brothers’ keepers.”
“As an African nation, Nigeria is built on the principle of communal support. It is in this spirit that we appeal to the Honourable Minister to reconsider any measures that may unjustly penalize these vulnerable citizens, who are, in fact, victims of government failures,” the statement said.
The LND pointed out that the rights of these displaced individuals should be seen through the lens of constitutional protections and international human rights obligations.
The Nigerian Constitution, under Chapter II, Section 14(2)(b), mandates the protection of citizens’ welfare, while the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantees protection from persecution and forced displacement.
The group asserted that forcibly removing these individuals from the streets without a comprehensive reintegration plan would violate both domestic and international legal standards. Instead, it recommended humane treatment and the opportunity for these people to return to their home states, with their welfare adequately addressed.
“We urge the Honourable Minister of the FCT to collaborate with northern state governors and the federal government to resolve this unfortunate situation. The government must take responsibility for the well-being of its citizens by taking immediate action to repatriate and rehabilitate these displaced individuals,” the statement continued.
The LND further called on the federal government to urgently address the root causes of insecurity and violence in northern Nigeria, urging the National Security Adviser to take decisive action to secure communities.
Additionally, the group pressed state governors to establish social welfare committees to manage the reintegration of displaced persons, provide relief, housing, education for children, and support for widows affected by the crises.
The statement concluded with a plea to the FCT Minister to act in a manner that prioritizes humanitarian considerations and ensures that vulnerable populations are treated with dignity and respect.