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There has been a rise of “corporate beggars” in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to the economic hardships and unemployment in Nigeria.
This new class of beggars comprises able-bodied individuals who have taken up begging as a means of survival, often earning more than they might from regular employment.
Many of the beggars operate in strategic locations such as shopping malls, hospitals, markets, and bus stops.
They tend to dress well and present convincing stories of personal hardship to appeal to the sympathy of passersby.
For instance, some claim to need money for a sick relative’s medication, transportation, or urgent family expenses.
One such beggar at the Banex plaza, Mrs Hauwa Baba, said that she had taken to begging to enable her to feed her family.
“I have to beg to feed my sick husband and my six children. Times are hard, we feed once in two days, no money to buy my husband’s drugs because he is diabetic.
“I used to work in a private firm but they reduced their staff strength due to the current economic situation in the country, and getting another job has been difficult.
“I have no choice but to beg as it is better than stealing,” Baba told the News Agency of Nigeria.
Habib Ibrahim, a beggar at Wuse market said that most of them begged because they had no other means of livelihood.
“I have been begging for over nine years in different locations in Abuja, I am married and blessed with nine children.
“I use the money I get to feed and train my children in school, they go to school during the week and they join me in begging at weekends, we share ourselves to different locations,” he said.
Another beggar, Uche Ray, said that begging paid his bills, adding that he earned up to N5,000 and above daily through begging.
“I did not choose to beg but the economy turned me into one.
“I used to work in a factory but after the fuel subsidy removal the company left the country and made me jobless, I have people who depend on me, that was how I started begging.
“If I get a good job I may stop begging, but for now, this pays the bills,” Ray said.
Ibrahim disclosed that he used to earn over ₦200,000 monthly but now makes around ₦90,000 to ₦100,000 due to the economic downturn.