FCT news

Eid-Mubarak Celebration: Less Privileges, Beggar’s Groans In FCT

Published

5 years ago

May 27, 2020

Joel Ajayi

It was the gale of lamentation for most of the beggars, and less privileges and the downtrodden in the Federal Capital Territory FCT as Muslim Faithful in the city joined the rest of the world to celebrate the this year’s edition of Eid-Mubarak at home as a result of religious restriction put in place by the government due to the pandemic COVID-19.

COVID-19 has continued to hit hard on both able and disable privilege and less-privilege, rich and poor, young and old in every of communities all over the country while thousands of lives have been lost across the globe.

Pervasive poverty, further escalated by the sudden appearance of the ongoing negative impact of pandemic COVID-19 that had dealt a serious blow to the economic progress of Nigeria.

Eid-El-Fitri is usually, a day celebrated with pomp and pageantry especially in view of the fact that it is the first day that Muslims unwind after going through the rigors of observing the month-long Ramadan fasting.

The Gleamer Online News on Sunday reported that this year’s celebration witnessed empty praying ground, mosques, and scanty street, as Muslim devotes observed prayer at home in the FCT.

Begging is rampant in FCT, and often involves visibly disadvantaged people, especially children, Women who line major roads to ask for offerings and daily bread.

Beggars are not finding the situation easier as it used to be, much noble international agencies and non-governmental organization, some cooperate bodies, as well as many well-meaning Nigerian always initiated several philanthropic and humanitarian projects in Nigeria during Eid-Al Filtr to support Muslim Faithful in the country especially the less-privileges, beggars, and downtrodden.

The Gleamer Online News findings revealed that many beggars that used to besiege the different prying ground especially Abuja National Mosque had disturbing tales to tell during this season.

Some of the beggars and mostly Muslim faithful who spoke with The Gleamer Online News complained of the sway of COVID-19 and how it affects their celebration.

When our Reporter drove to the Abuja National Mosque it was a gale of lamentation, as the beggar swamped our Reporter to beg for alms.

One of them that can speak little English Mohammed Idris a physically challenged man who received justN100 from our reporter expressed that “I have not received any food and money today, unlike before where food and gifts will be everywhere, people don’t come out, and we are hungry, nobody to help us. I have not seen this kind of celebration.” He groaned.

When our reporter asked him if he was aware of COVID-19? He replied “yes, but I have not seen one affected person.”

One the Muslim faithful that used to celebrate the Eid Mubarak in a big way Alhaji Ibrahim Kopada who resides in Zone 3 told our Reporter that: “It’s very unfortunate, I can’t stage big celebration as usual due to the outbreak of COVID-19

“I was even thinking in my closet, that if we that happened to be able could not celebrate Eid celebration due to “Coronavirus” how the situation will look like for the less-privileges people?

“Usually, I go out on day like this with my family, to give the less privileged food but this year, no such thing. We only staged a low key celebration at home; generally, we thank Allah for the gift of life.

“That’s the key thing, because when there is life, there is hope. We can only pray for a better Nigeria. We were been told that there is time for everything under this world, we pray for a better time.” He prayed.

It was also gathered that beggars at National Mosque mostly women and children where highly disappointed as their expectation were not met as a result of pandemic COVID-19 that is frightening their benefactors to come out to help them.

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FCT news

FCT Cleaners Urge Minister Wike to Intervene Over Months of Unpaid Salaries

Published

3 weeks ago

May 13, 2025

The Gleamer

Over 4,500 cleaners working across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including city cleaners, hospital sanitation workers, satellite town cleaners, and security personnel, have made a passionate appeal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over the non-payment of their salaries for the past six to eight months.

The affected workers, who play a critical role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across the FCT, including hospitals and public spaces, expressed their deep frustration and hardship due to the prolonged delay in their payments.

Despite working tirelessly under harsh weather conditions to ensure that Abuja and its environs remain clean and habitable, they say their efforts have gone unrewarded.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the cleaners voiced their disappointment, describing the situation as dire and unsustainable.

Many of them are reportedly struggling to meet basic needs, including food, medical expenses, school fees, and loan repayments.

“We are using this medium to appeal to our amiable FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene and ensure our outstanding salaries are paid.

“We are going through untold hardship. We work day and night, even in dangerous and unhygienic conditions, yet we are not being paid.”

Another affected worker, who asked to remain anonymous, tearfully shared her experience: “We may be doing a ‘dirty job,’ but we do it with all our hearts. It is unfair that we are left unpaid. We are dying in silence—no food for our children, no money for healthcare. We beg the Honourable Minister to come to our aid.”

The cleaners, in their numbers, emphasized that their appeal was not just a demand but a desperate cry for help from workers who feel neglected despite their vital contributions to the FCT’s public health and cleanliness.

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