Hardship: People No Longer Give Us Alms, Beggars Lament

Beggars in Kaduna Sate have lamented the economic challenges in the country, saying many Nigerians no longer give alms to vulnerable groups.

Some of the beggars who spoke to our correspondent said it was difficult to survive as a beggar in Nigeria today.

Zainab Abdullahi, a mother of six who begs for a living, said people hardly give them money nowadays, adding that she started begging since 2019 after she lost her husband.

She said, “In 2019  people gave us N500, N200, clothes, food and other things. But now, they don’t even look at you or the children. The act of giving has reduced a lot. The highest denomination I received this week was N100.”

She added that the sharing of food packs hardly happens now and when it does the packs contain little quantities unlike before when they had a lot to eat.

“It is even difficult to see people giving basic necessities such as clothes, drugs, tissue paper  and so on as it was a routine then,” she added.

Abdullahi, a person with physical disability, said  he begs from 8am to 8pm, and people give now give the least denomination of N5.

Bature Mohammed,  a visually impaired man in his 50’s, said, “To meet up with my responsibilities as a father of four, I beg till late night because people are no longer giving us like before.

“This is a very hard time for beggars like me because those who are physically complete find it difficult to provide for their daily lives compared to us.

“Before, I used to go home with at least N1,000 daily apart from the various food items. Now, I hardly go home with N300. Today, I made just N200. This is to show you the extent the economy has reduced our benefactors”.

Some roadside sellers confirmed that many people  no longer give alms due to the economic challenges in the country.

A roadside seller, Elizabeth, said she stopped giving beggars money on the streets and decided to give the little she can spare to members of her family that are struggling to survive.

She said, “In a day up to two to three people in my family seek financial help. Sometimes I promise to give them and I fulfil my promise. Other times I just tell them I am also struggling.

“Before, in a week I gave beggars up to N500 or more when I go out. Some even came in groups to my shop to solicit financial help.

“But now, I don’t give them because I am also struggling to survive, businesses are no longer moving like before.”