E
ven before the bill banning begging in Kano is presented to the State House of Assembly for deliberation, a segment of the society had expressed dismay at the government’s intention.
Recently, the Commander-General of the state Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa hinted that plans are on to ban all form of begging, including child street begging, an idea that appears unwelcome by mostly Qur’an teachers, findings have shown.
According to Malam Haruna Shugaba, banning child street begging is not the best option unless the state government has other plans of rehabilitating all the beggars, if not, it will most likely be an exercise in futility.
Another Qur’anic teacher, Mallam Rabi’u Abba Koki said his students go to streets to beg for what they could eat, including money with which to buy soap for washing and bathing.
According to him, the students have to, as it was not their fault neither his, but the parents whom severity with their children look as if they relieve themselves of a burden, more so as they hardly provide their children foods stuff and other necessity of life when they send them to Qur’anic schools.
But another segment of the society appears to be in support of the policy. Most of those Nigerian Pilot interviewed on the issue were happy with the government in its bid to rid the state of beggars on the streets, most of whom are not Kano indigenes, but flocked Kano, being a big commercial centre.
Nigerian Pilot checks revealed that those who have turned begging to a profession are making fortune out of it as some own buildings, commercial vehicles and run businesses and will resist any attempt banning them from roaming the streets to beg for alms.
Meanwhile, the Kano State governor, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso had during a parley with the press reiterated the state government resolve at ridding Kano roads and streets of beggars, including child begging or almajiris.
The government further stated that there is “no going back on the ban against all form of begging” that had defied solution all this while after fruitless effort by past administrations in the state.