Amid the hardship across the country, corporate begging has become a popular source of income for many Nigerians.

Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have taken to begging as part of their strategies to make ends meet.

DAILY POST reports that the people who engage in the practice usually hang around residential buildings, shopping malls, bus stops, religious centres, hospitals, markets, roadsides and offices.

Speaking to DAILY POST, some of those involved blamed it on worsening hardship.

One of such beggars at the Berger area of the FCT, who simply gave her name as Mrs Hauwa, said that she had taken to begging to enable her to feed her family.

She said, “I have to beg to feed my sick husband and my six children. Times are hard, we feed once in two days, no money to buy my husband’s drugs because he is diabetic.

“I used to work in a private firm but they reduced their staff strength due to the current economic situation in the country, and getting another job has been difficult. I have no choice but to beg as it is better than stealing.”

She added that even if she gets another job, she will have to consider if the job favoured her more before she can quit begging.

Another beggar, who did not give his name, said that most of them begged because they had no other means of livelihood.

According to him: “I have been begging for over nine years in different locations in Abuja, I am married and blessed with nine children.

“I use the money I get to feed and train my children in school; they go to school during the week and they join me in begging at weekends, we share ourselves to different locations,” he said.

On his part, one Mustapha stated that he used to make over N200, 000 monthly, lamenting that he currently barely makes up to N100,000 due to the economic hardship in the country.

“Due to the current economic hardship , I now make between N90,000 and N100,000 monthly. This is the only thing I know how to do and it pays me more than getting a job.

”I know when workers receive their salaries, and that is the time I go to government offices. Every season has its location,” he said.

Also speaking, another beggar who preferred to be identified with just his first name, Alli, noted that he always dresses well and neat to enable his clients to give him an audience when he approaches them with his sad tales.

He explained that most Nigerians are not moved and are usually not ready to help when they do not hear sad tales.

He stressed that begging paid his bills, adding that he earned up to N5, 000 and above on a daily basis through begging.

“I did not choose to beg but the economy turned me into one. I used to work in a factory but after the fuel subsidy removal, the company left the country and made me jobless.

“I have people who depend on me, that was how I started begging. If I get a good job I may stop begging, but for now, this pays the bills,” he said.