FCTA rehabilitates 452 stranded commercial sex workers

By TOYIN ADEBAYO, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Social Development Secretariat (SDS) revealed that efforts to clean up the social landscape of the nation’s capital have yielded enormous desired results, with about 452 commercial sex workers recently taken off the streets and comprehensively rehabilitated.

Hajia Hadiza Kabir, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during a year-end briefing to journalists on the Secretariat’s achievements.

She said this, “The two FCT Ministers have stepped up efforts to create a socially friendly environment free of moral bankruptcy in the Capital City.

She described the Secretariat’s regular crackdown on some red-light zones and arrests of commercial sex workers as a social responsibility through which it rescues young women from the shackles of drugs and other types of exploitation.

She said: “The regular clampdown on some red-light zones and arrest of commercial sex workers, was a social responsibility, through which the Secretariat rescues young women from the shackles of drugs and other forms of criminalities while providing them with meaningful means of livelihoods.

“With the training and skills acquired by the rehabilitated commercial workers, with the starter packs given to them, they were expected to contribute hugely to the country’s GDP,” she added.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the secretariat, Kabir said, “They were able to train and give starter packs to 452 Commercial Sex Workers and needy Women.

“Spent N24m in apprehending, evacuating, rehabilitating of beggars, hawkers, mentally unstable/impaired person and repatriating most of them to their various state of origin in the first half of 2021.

“Rehabilitation of the downtrodden. Referral of cases to liaison office, hospitals, orphanages, police, immigration.”

She also stressed that the administration had embarked on several programmes targeted at alleviating the plight of other vulnerable members of society.

Kabir further stated that the troubling menace of baggers within Abuja was being tackled by regular arrests and repatriation to their various home states.

She, however, reassured that FCT Administration will continue in its sensitization of the public on the dangers of allowing beggars, hawkers and mentally unstable people to roam about on the streets of Abuja. (Daily Independent)