The Politics of Street Begging in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was attempted to find out if, street begging really get to the extent of qualifying it as a social problem in Sokoto North local government.

It also tries to evaluate the influence of factors responsible for street begging in Nigeria and Sokoto North in particular.

It has also attempted to find out whether or not begging in the street is unique to only the disabled people or that truly encourage it among its adherents.

In the course of this research, it is believed that Hausa societies are more prone to begging in the Northern part of Nigeria which also brings more backwardness than any good to the people.

In the course of this research, it has also been discovered that the implication of begging leads to so many social evils and other numerous threat to the social security of the people generally.

Efforts of the government and other stakeholders are not adequate and that more is expected to be done for the menace to fade.

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

Begging on the streets, in the urban centers is one of the age- long activities and perhaps occupations of the highly vulnerable, poverty-ridden individuals in the society.

This is particularly not limited to the developing countries alone. As revealed in the studies of different scholars, begging is not peculiar to developing countries; it is a universal phenomenon (Ado, 1997) and a global urban problem.

While a considerable number of cities were identified in the US and Mexico as having a significant level of begging activity (Smith, 2005),

cities in China, especially Shanghai, have been described as homes of different categories of beggars (including the poor, the disabled, the homeless and professional beggars), which are described as “liumin” (floating people) or “youmin”(wandering people) (Hanchao, Lu, 1999).

In India, begging is seen as a pride as beggars are seen posing as someone famous. The situation is not so different in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, where beggars are seen at junctions all over the city.

References

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Fabrega, H. (1971). “Begging in a Southern Mexico City”, Human Organisation, 30(3), 350-402.

Hanchao Lu, H. (1999). “Becoming Urban: Mendicancy and Vagrants in Modern Shanghai”. Journal of Social History. (www.shanghaicentre.com).

Jelili, M.A. (2006). “Land Use Classification and Informal Sector Question in Ogbomoso, Nigeria”, Journal of Human Ecology, 20(4), 283-287.