The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has removed no fewer than 607 beggars and mentally challenged persons from the streets of Abuja between July 2025 and the present.
The Head of Enforcement at the FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Ukachi Adebayo, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday.
Adebayo said the exercise was carried out by the Operation Sweep Abuja Clean team as part of efforts to rid the nation’s capital of street begging and improve public safety and order.
According to her, out of the 607 persons evacuated, 583 were beggars while 23 were mentally challenged individuals.
She explained that those rescued were picked up from major roads, markets, motor parks and other public places across the Federal Capital Territory where they constituted security and environmental concerns.
Adebayo noted that while able-bodied beggars were profiled and repatriated to their respective states of origin, those identified with mental health challenges were handed over to appropriate medical and rehabilitation centres for proper care.
She added that the exercise was ongoing and would be sustained to ensure Abuja remains clean, safe and befitting of its status as the nation’s capital.
The enforcement head urged residents to desist from giving alms to street beggars, warning that such acts encourage the practice and undermine government efforts to address the problem.
She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to social welfare interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable persons through structured and humane programmes rather than street begging.
