FCTA Flags Off ‘Operation Sweep’ to Cleanse Abuja of Street Begging, Crime

By our Reporter

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a city-wide enforcement campaign tagged Operation Sweep aimed at tackling street begging, illegal roadside trading, scavenging, and criminal activities — especially those associated with “one-chance” syndicates — within Abuja and its satellite communities.

The initiative, according to a statement issued by Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, follows a directive from the Minister, Dr. Nyesom Wike, as part of renewed efforts to restore public order, enhance safety, and maintain environmental cleanliness in the capital city.

Codenamed “Operation Sweep Abuja of Miscreants, Street Beggars/Traders, Scavengers, and Other Criminal Elements”, the campaign commenced this week with a coordinated deployment of a Joint Task Force composed of security agencies and FCTA departments.

“In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other existing laws, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate removal of street beggars, traders, scavengers, and other miscreants from the FCT,” the statement read.

The Minister emphasized that Abuja must reflect the dignity and order of a national capital, not serve as a haven for lawlessness. “Our nation’s capital should be a secured symbol of pride and beauty — not a site for street begging and scavenging, which often masks deeper criminal activities,” he stated.

Under Operation Sweep, offenders will be arrested, profiled, and repatriated to their respective states of origin. The Minister also encouraged residents to actively support the initiative by reporting suspicious activity through the FCTA hotlines: 08061581938 and 08032003913.

“The security of lives and property in the FCT is a top priority. We urge everyone to collaborate in creating a safer, cleaner, and more orderly Abuja,” the statement concluded.