Featured – Page 7 – National Daily Newspaper

Kyari breaks silence on reported Senate arrest warrant

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 months 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 months 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...

Nigeria’s PoS banking boom faces rising fraud threats as agents bear growing risks

Business2 months ago

Nigeria’s PoS banking boom faces rising fraud threats as agents bear growing risks

Nigeria’s Point-of-Sale (PoS) agent banking network, once hailed as a breakthrough for financial inclusion, is now confronting escalating security and fraud challenges that are reshaping the...

Bamidele proposes six-year single term for presidents, governors

Featured2 months ago

Bamidele proposes six-year single term for presidents, governors

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has proposed a constitutional amendment seeking to replace Nigeria’s current two-term tenure system for presidents and state governors with a single, non-renewable...

Inside the Resurgence of School Abductions Across Nigeria

Featured2 months ago

Inside the resurgence of school abductions across Nigeria

A disturbing resurgence of school kidnappings across Nigeria has reignited concerns about the safety of students and educators, raising questions about why educational institutions remain...

Xenophobia fears resurface as Nigerians evacuated from South Africa

Featured2 months ago

Xenophobia fears resurface as Nigerians evacuated from South Africa

Fresh concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa have emerged following the evacuation of Nigerians from affected communities amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment and renewed tensions targeting...

Featured2 months ago

Nigeria must move beyond zoning, choose leaders based on competence ahead of 2027 – Baba-Ahmed

As political activity gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, political analyst and elder statesman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has called on Nigerians to abandon regional and...

Peter Obi warns against ethnic profiling, says crime must not be linked to communities

Featured2 months ago

Peter Obi warns against ethnic profiling, says crime must not be linked to communities

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned rising cases of ethnic profiling in Nigeria, warning that linking criminal behaviour to entire...

Cooking gas hits record ₦2,400/kg as price surge pushes Nigerian households back to firewood

Business2 months ago

Cooking gas hits record ₦2,400/kg as price surge pushes Nigerian households back to firewood

Nigerian households are grappling with a sharp rise in cooking gas prices, with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) now selling for as high as ₦2,400 per kilogram...