The League of Northern Democrats (LND) yesterday urged the federal and state governments to make adequate provisions ahead of the plan to relocate “beggars” from Abuja, who they said are mostly displaced persons from northern states ravaged by insecurity and economic hardship.
LND, in a memo addressed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on his plan to remove beggars from Abuja streets, said the beggars should not be treated as garbage, criminals or public nuisance.
While appealing for empathy towards the “beggars”, the northern leaders urged the federal and state governments to ensure the security challenges and economic crisis in the region and across the country are addressed.
They called on the minister to collaborate with Northern state governors to execute the relocation plan, stressing the need to provide immediate humanitarian aid as well as setting up a social welfare committee and a task force to oversee the exercise.
LND said it agreed with the minister’s good intention to ensure the capital city remains orderly, but that the root causes behind the plight of the beggars has to be understood and addressed.
The memo dated October 24, 2024 was written and signed by Dr Umar Ardo, on behalf of the LND. It was entitled “Protecting and Advocating for Displaced Victims of Insecurity in the Streets of Abuja: A Call for Responsible Governance and Humanitarian Treatment.”
Wike had last Tuesday declared war on beggars, stating that enforcement agents will begin to apprehend beggars from next week Monday.
He disclosed this during the official flag-off ceremony of the construction of an access road from Ring 1 by N16 to Judges’ quarters and roads within the quarters in Katampe District of Abuja.
Reacting, the northern body stressed its worry about the one week ultimatum by the minister on relocation plan.
It added that those described as beggars didn’t take to that way of life by choice or laziness as most of them “are displaced victims of insecurity and violence, and economic hardships as a result of poor government policies, from states severely affected by the ongoing crises in northern Nigeria.”
The memo said banditry, insurgency, communal violence and economic deprivations have forced countless families to flee their homes in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Borno, and other areas of the North.
Listing its demand for a successful relocation LND, said “The Federal Government immediately resolves the intractable insecurity and violence bedeviling the communities of Northern Nigeria. The National Security Adviser must stand up to his duties of getting our communities secured;
“The Federal Government must turn around the debilitating economic situation of the country and make life more meaningful for our citizens. The National Economic Council must also stand up to its responsibilities to the nation;
“The Federal Government to issue a formal notice to state governors of the affected states to create a comprehensive plan for the reintegration of displaced persons back into their home communities. This should include immediate humanitarian aid; Psycho-social support to address trauma, especially for widows and orphans; livelihood opportunities to ensure economic empowerment and rehabilitation to prevent future dependency;
“The governors of affected states are to also urgently set up social welfare committees tasked with managing the reintegration of these displaced persons, and to provide adequate relief, housing and education for the children and support systems for widows who have lost their spouses to insecurity; and
“The establishment of a joint taskforce, consisting of representatives from the affected states and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to oversee the return and resettlement process. This body is to be responsible for ensuring that all displaced persons receive the care, rehabilitation and protection they deserve.”
The memo further said that for more than one and a half decades, the country has faced serious insecurity and economic deprivation that have ravaged especially the Northern zone, leaving thousands of families displaced, homes destroyed and livelihoods shattered.
It added that life has become unbearable for most people in the villages and the streets of Abuja have naturally been made the refuge for many of these victims, a large proportion of whom are women, widowed by violence, and children, left orphaned and vulnerable.
“These individuals fled their homes, not out of choice, but absolute necessity. They were forced to seek safety in the capital after being driven away by insecurity and the failure of adequate protections in their states of origin,” the memo added.
The northern group said under such a situation, the FCT Administration and governments at all levels, ought to stand as beacons of compassion and solidarity towards these unfortunate victims of state failure.
“As an African nation, Nigeria is founded on the principle of being our brothers’ keepers, and it is in this spirit that we appeal to the Honourable Minister to reconsider any measures that may unjustly penalize these vulnerable members of our society that are after all victims of governments failures.
“Besides, the rights of these displaced women and children must be viewed through the lens of both constitutional protections and international human rights obligations. The Nigerian Constitution, particularly Chapter II, Section 14(2)(b), guarantees the protection of the welfare of citizens, stating that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
It added that the obligation extended to all levels of government to ensure that vulnerable populations are not subjected to further hardship through reckless abandon.
“Moreover, Nigeria is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which in Article 23 ensures the right to protection from persecution and forced displacement.
“The involuntary removal of displaced persons from the streets without a humane reintegration plan would constitute a violation of both domestic and international legal standards.
“Consequently, we at the League of Northern Democrats strongly advocate and appeal that these displaced persons are not to be treated as garbage, criminals or a public nuisance – they are not! Rather, they should be empathized with, be treated humanely and given the opportunity to return to their home states, with their welfare properly addressed.
“We therefore urge the Honourable Minister of the FCT to work in collaboration with the respective Northern state governors and the federal government in resolving this unfortunate situation. Government must shoulder responsibilities of their citizens and must be seen to be doing so by taking immediate action to repatriate and rehabilitate these displaced individuals.
“It is essential that governments approach this issue with compassion and patriotism. These displaced women and children are Nigerians who deserve the sympathy, protection and care of their governments at all levels. By removing them from the streets of Abuja without providing them with a clear path toward rehabilitation, we risk compounding their suffering and undermining the values of our nation,” the memo said.
