The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has evacuated 217 destitute and beggars from the streets of Abuja to their home states.
The Director, Department of Social Welfare Services, Social Development Secretariat (SDS) of the FCTA, Alhaji Sani Amar–Rabe, disclosed this on Sunday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Amar–Rabe explained that the action was taken in compliance with the order by the FCTA Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, and the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Olusade Adesola.
Amar–Rabe noted that it was the responsibility of FCTA to ensure that those evacuated from the streets were returned to their various home states.
“We are here in respect of repatriation of the apprehended destitute, street beggars, street boys and vagabonds, who were profiled, their health challenges were equally attended to, and they show no interest in learning vocational skills.
“They only show interest to be out to be attended to what they consider to be a liberty sort of, to continue doing their destitution.
“But those who have a good mindset, embrace skills acquisition for empowerment.
“Today, we don’t have many, they are just 217 beggars and street boys that are to be repatriated, mostly to Kastina, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.
“And this time round, we have some from Abia, Imo and Delta states,” the statement said.