This commentary powerfully connects the efforts of Nigerian officials, like Nyesom Wike, to rid Abuja of street beggars with the plot of *The Beggars’ Strike* by Aminata Sow Fall. The novel’s protagonist, Mour Ndiaye, realizes too late how deeply the beggars are embedded in the moral fabric of society, and a similar lesson looms for Wike. His declaration of a “war” on beggars echoes the cyclical, failed efforts of his predecessors, who have repeatedly attempted to cleanse the capital of its most visible markers of poverty without success. These repeated actions only show how out of touch these officials are with the deeper socio-economic and cultural factors at play.
As the article suggests, begging in Nigeria transcends the streets. It is a systemic feature, mirrored in both individual survival strategies and the actions of the country’s leadership, who themselves are constantly “begging” for foreign aid, investment, or loans. Wike’s focus on beggars as an “embarrassment” to visitors shows more concern for the optics of governance than the underlying realities of poverty. The piece astutely points out the absurdity of this focus, especially when the very beggars he wants to “remove” are often products of the country’s own governance failures—victims of terrorism, displacement, and economic collapse.
Moreover, the commentary critiques Wike’s disregard for the religious and moral economy that often underpins acts of almsgiving in Nigerian society, particularly within the Islamic context. As with Ndiaye in *The Beggars’ Strike*, Wike may soon find himself negotiating with the same people he seeks to eliminate, recognizing the inescapable symbiosis between the rich and poor in the city’s religiously influenced social structure.
Ultimately, Wike’s efforts are unlikely to succeed because, as the commentary notes, street beggars are not just a nuisance to be dealt with; they are living reminders of the societal inequalities that governance in Nigeria has failed to address. Wike and others may continue to try forceful measures, but unless the root causes of poverty and displacement are addressed, they will find that beggars, like the proverbial tide, will always return.
