Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has boldly declared that no elite class will intimidate him as he intensifies efforts to restore law and order in Abuja. In a no-holds-barred media chat in the nation’s capital on Monday, Wike said he finds satisfaction in “stepping on big toes” when it comes to enforcing the law, particularly in compelling powerful property owners to pay outstanding ground rents.
He condemned the hypocrisy of Nigeria’s elite who admire law and order abroad but return to flout basic regulations at home. “This era of impunity is over. People who think nothing will happen when they break the law should get ready, because something will happen,” Wike warned.
But Wike’s war on disorder didn’t end with ground rent defaulters. In a separate legal battle currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the minister is defending his crackdown on street beggars, scavengers, and homeless individuals. Wike, in a counter affidavit to a N500 million lawsuit filed by a lawyer representing some vulnerable Abuja residents, insists that the growing presence of destitute individuals is not only illegal but a serious threat to national security and public health.
The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Abba Hikima, accuses Wike, the Inspector General of Police, DSS, NSCDC, Attorney General of the Federation, and the Federal Government of violating the fundamental rights of vulnerable persons. But Wike is not backing down.
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According to the counter affidavit deposed by Saidu Abdulkadir from the FCTA Legal Services Secretariat, begging and scavenging are not recognized trades under Nigerian law. The minister argues that many so-called scavengers have been caught vandalizing private and public property and, in some cases, have acted as informants for kidnappers and criminal networks.
Wike also stated that makeshift shelters, often built under bridges and at street corners, are environmental hazards and violate the Abuja Master Plan. He cited the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Act of 1997, which prohibits unauthorized structures, open urination, defecation, and street trading.
He stressed that the integrity of the FCT is at stake, pointing out that Abuja’s city centre has become degraded and less secure due to the overwhelming presence of hawkers and beggars. “The serenity of Abuja is under threat, and we will not allow that,” he said.
Wike emphasized that efforts to rehabilitate vulnerable individuals have been consistent. The FCT Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre in Bwari was established to provide training and skills acquisition for the indigent, aged, and homeless. However, he lamented that many who go through these programs return to the streets, rejecting empowerment opportunities in favor of illegal street activities.
He categorically denied the allegations of extortion, maltreatment, or unlawful detention of homeless people. According to Wike, the three alleged victims cited in the lawsuit are “faceless,” with no evidence provided in court to back up the claims.
“This suit is nothing more than fiction,” Wike stated, accusing the applicant of creating a baseless narrative to derail the administration’s urban sanitation and security efforts.
