Featured – Page 4 – National Daily Newspaper

Two arrested after England team equipment stolen ahead of World Cup opener

Two arrested after England team equipment stolen ahead of World Cup opener

Authorities in the United States have arrested two suspects following the theft of equipment belonging to England’s national football team while it was being transported to...

27 Years of Democracy: Nigerians Weigh Freedom Against Rising Hardship

Featured2 weeks ago

27 Years of Democracy: Nigerians weigh freedom against rising hardship

Twenty-seven years after Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, a central question continues to dominate public discourse on Democracy Day: has democratic governance truly improved...

High Costs, Visa Challenges Dampen Excitement Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Energy2 weeks ago

High costs, visa challenges dampen excitement ahead of 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but soaring travel costs, expensive match tickets, and visa challenges have...

Falz joins June 12 protest in Lagos, decries insecurity, economic hardship

Featured2 weeks ago

Falz joins June 12 protest in Lagos, decries insecurity, economic hardship

Afrobeats star and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, on Friday joined Democracy Day protests in Lagos, accusing Nigerian leaders of neglecting the welfare of...

African Teams Dream Big in Pursuit of World Cup Glory

Featured2 weeks ago

African teams dream big in pursuit of World Cup glory

African nations are entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup with renewed confidence and heightened expectations as the continent fields a record 10 teams in the expanded...

NSIB recovers black boxes as probe deepens into private jet’s highway landing in Delta

Aviation2 weeks ago

NSIB recovers black boxes as probe deepens into private jet’s highway landing in Delta

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it has recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—commonly referred to as black boxes from a private...

Outrage as alleged xenophobic remarks by South African politician spark outrage

Featured2 weeks ago

Outrage as alleged xenophobic remarks by South African politician spark outrage

A farewell event for Nigerians being repatriated from South Africa has sparked public outrage after a South African political figure allegedly made derogatory remarks describing Nigerians...

Kyari breaks silence on reported Senate arrest warrant

Featured2 weeks ago

Kyari breaks silence on reported Senate arrest warrant

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has expressed shock over reports that the Nigerian Senate issued...

New York honors Thierry Henry, Pelé with street names ahead of 2026 World Cup

Featured2 weeks ago

New York honors Thierry Henry, Pelé with street names ahead of 2026 World Cup

New York City has honored football icons Thierry Henry and Pelé by temporarily renaming two streets after the legendary players as excitement builds ahead of the...

Rising Street Begging in Major Nigerian Cities Raises Concern Over Urban Poverty and Migration Pressures LAGOS, Nigeria — An increase in street begging across major Nigerian cities has sparked renewed concern among residents, urban planners, and social welfare advocates, with experts linking the trend to worsening urban poverty, rural-urban migration, and gaps in social support systems. In cities including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, more individuals—particularly women, children, and persons with disabilities—are being seen at busy intersections, markets, transport hubs, and religious centres, where they rely on alms for survival. The visible rise has prompted debate over the underlying economic and social drivers pushing vulnerable populations into street begging. Poverty and migration pressures driving the trend Social researchers and urban development analysts attribute the increase largely to deepening economic hardship, especially in low-income households affected by unemployment, inflation, and rising living costs. Many families migrating from rural areas to urban centres in search of better opportunities reportedly struggle to secure stable jobs or housing, forcing some into informal survival strategies. Experts also point to widening inequality between urban and rural areas, noting that cities continue to attract large populations without a corresponding expansion in social welfare infrastructure or affordable housing. Concerns over children and vulnerable groups Human rights advocates have raised particular concern over the presence of children among street beggars, warning that many are exposed to exploitation, unsafe environments, and interrupted education. Disability rights groups have also highlighted the lack of adequate social protection for persons with disabilities, many of whom rely on begging as a last resort for survival. There are growing calls for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and improved access to education and social support services to reduce the number of vulnerable individuals on the streets. Government and NGO responses In response to the trend, government agencies and non-governmental organizations have reportedly intensified outreach efforts, including rehabilitation programmes, street-to-school initiatives for children, and temporary shelters in some urban areas. Social welfare agencies have also been encouraged to expand identification and support systems for vulnerable populations. However, stakeholders say these interventions remain limited in scale compared to the size of the problem, citing funding constraints and insufficient coordination among relevant agencies. Some city authorities have also explored measures to discourage street begging in high-traffic areas, though such efforts have drawn criticism from advocacy groups who argue that enforcement alone does not address the root causes of poverty. Call for long-term solutions Policy experts emphasize that addressing the rise in street begging will require long-term investment in social welfare systems, job creation, and rural development to reduce migration pressure on urban centres. They also stress the need for integrated approaches that combine enforcement with rehabilitation, education, and economic empowerment programmes to support vulnerable individuals off the streets. As the debate continues, stakeholders warn that without coordinated intervention, the visibility of street begging in major cities is likely to persist, reflecting deeper structural challenges in Nigeria’s urban economy.

Featured2 weeks ago

Davido turns global spotlight on abducted Nigerian Schoolchildren at World Cup concert

Nigerian music star Davido used the global stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert to draw attention to the plight of abducted schoolchildren and...