Senate decides to ban street begging in Nigeria

The Nigerian Senates is on the verge of passing a law banning street begging in the country to curb its nuisance.

The Nigerian Senate, the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, has begun a move to enact a law banning street begging in the country. Daily Trust reports that the move was a sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Hamma Misau, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Bauchi Central Senatorial Distric, tagged 'Menace of street begging and need to rehabilitate beggars.' While addressing the Senate during a plenary presided by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Misau expressed concern over the increase in the scourge of street begging and the nuisance it constitutes on the street of major cities across the country. “Though street begging is a global urban problem, the situation in Nigeria appears intractable and overwhelming as beggars are now found everywhere especially at motor parks, religious centres, road junctions, venue of ceremonies and other public places,” Senator Misau said. Also Read: "In Nasarawa: Government bans begging" In his remarks, Senator Ekweremadu said the motion should be sustained in addition to the bill, adding that the culture that encourages street begging must be reversed.