Senate moves to ban street begging

The Senate yesterday began a move to enact a law to ban street begging in the country.

The move was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi Central), tagged 'menace of street begging and need to rehabilitate beggars'.

Misau expressed concern over increase in the scourge of street begging and 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,' he said. In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary said the motion should be sustained in addition to the bill. He said the culture that encourages street begging must be reversed.