Stakeholders Caution On Street Begging Law

The Rivers State Government has been advised to exercise caution in the implementation of the law on the curbing of street begging in Port Harcourt.

A cross-section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide on the issue, said that rather than making laws to ban begging, the government should come up with policies and programmes that would empower the disadvantage groups in the society.

They said that, outright proscription of begging would lead to mass suicide and anti social behaviour such as armed robbery and kidnapping.

In his view, a politician, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, urge the government to be cautious in handling issues that concern the vulnerable groups in the society.

He said that the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation should be encouraged to deal with these group of persons while a rehabilitation centre should be established for them.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Port Harcourt City, Prince Williams Chinwo, who described begging as a menace however said that experts should be invited to proffer solutions on ways of checking the trend.

Prince Chinwo said that the state of origin of the beggars should be known with a view to repatriating those who are not from Rivers State.

Also speaking, Dr. Ahmed Ayodete of Ayo global venture urged the government to evolve a welfare scheme for this group of persons.

According to him, government should provide them with accommodation and jobs.

Ephah Borida