We Have Taken 217 Destitute, Beggars Off The Streets- FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Sunday repatriated 217 destitute and street beggars among others evacuated from the streets of the FCT, Abuja.

Sani Amar-Rabe,  Director, Department of Social Welfare Services, Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at the FCT Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre in Bwari Area Council.

He explained that the repatriation complied with the order by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, and the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, who instructed the Department of Social Welfare Services to rid the city of human and environmental nuisances.

He stated that it was the responsibility of the FCTA to ensure that those evacuated from the streets are repatriated to their various states.

Amar-Rabe said, “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 showed no interest in learning vocational skills.

“They only showed interest to be out to be attended to what they considered to be a liberty sort of, to continue doing their destitution.

“But those who have good mindset embraced skills acquisition for empowerment. So, that is the purpose of our coming to this centre today.

“Today, we don’t have many; they are just 217 beggars and street boys that are to be repatriated, mostly to Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

“And this time around we have some from Abia, Imo and Delta states.”