A woman owns the shack. She comes at regular intervals to collect rent from the occupants. More than 20 persons live in this shack. In the day, they go out to solicit alms and at night, they retire there to sleep for the next day’s business. Those caught are held by government officials until they are bailed.
But those without one to bail them are detained for as long as the government agents like then they are just let to go. This story is from one of the Abuja lepers’ colonies.
This leper’s colony is directly opposite the Catholic secretariat of Nigeria along Living Faith Church road, Durumi, Abuja. If you are entering Durum from Area 1, the colony is on your left. You may hardly notice it is there because overgrown weeds and crops shield it. This is where supposed lepers live. Many living there are not affected.
Both men and women live here with their children. The women comprising the young and the old are separated from the men. Their shack is about 50 meters away from men’s. Unlike men who have been able to construct three shacks for themselves, the women have only one–they all cram themselves into it.
When our reporter accompanied a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Tabitha Cumi Foundation which was marking the World Humanitarian Day (day set aside by the United Nations Organisation, UNO to remember its humanitarian workers killed while giving service and displaced persons in war-torn and natural disaster areas) on a visit to the place, the persons affected by leprosy shared diverse tales. None of them seemed to be happy with their condition of living.
Their tales
Head of persons affected by leprosy in Durumi Garba Turaki recalled that during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, beggars were given monthly stipend of N4,000 but that went with the exit of that government–a situation that made many of them to return to the street as beggars.
Hauwa Ibrahim who said she came to the camp three months ago from Jigawa State explained, “My daughter got married but I couldn’t buy her bridal wares. I had nothing to spend on her. I came to look for money. If I get I will go back.”
Abdullahi Abubakar Tsiga who migrated from Katsina State said in 2003, government took him along with several other beggars to a camp in Yangoji along Abuja-Lokoja road but because not much care is given them there, he comes into the city to get alms. “I come here [city] to get more. During Obasanjo’s time [former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration 1999-2007], we were paid N4,000 every month. That has stopped long ago,” Tsiga lamented.
Suuny Ahmed who came from Nsukka in Enugu State said, “I have been here for two years. I came in search of what to eat with my seven children. But I realised that Nsukka is better because I’m suffering here. My children are not in school. I sleep in a bacha [shack]. I pay for rent. Beggars have a place built for them but they leave their place, come here on Friday to go back on Sunday. Begging is not good. Government should help my children go to school. I need a job–I don’t like begging.” Ahmed who does not appear to be leprous is suffering from loss of sight. One of his boys of about six holds his hand and leads the way.
One of the lepers said he has been here “from Shagari’s time” during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari in 1979-1983.
NGO’s concern
The Programme Manager, Tabitha Cumi Foundation, Bar (Mrs) Chikodi Omokide presented food to the destitute.
She explained the essence of the visit: “My being here is to say ‘I was here’. We understand your pains. We know some of you are leprous, some blind. But I want you to learn what you can do. We want these children you have produced to go to school so they won’t be like you. Government has provided free education. Don’t allow your children to live and walk under the sun. By this time next year, I would want you to have something else doing.”
She said it is in the spirit of humanity–not just to give them materials but to sensitise them to see the need to stop begging. She was not happy that the beggars are producing children in whom they are inculcating the unenviable trade, begging.
The Programme Manager lamented, “There are a lot of out-of-school children. We want them not to deprive these children education. Some of the women are pregnant but they don’t access ante natal care.”
She observed that though some of the leprosy affected persons have been healed, their relatives have failed to come and take them home. This she attributed to the stigma associated with the disease.
There was crisis soon after the NGO finished the sharing of the items it brought. The head of the NGO stressed that because women always carry babies, they would receive more. But the men picked offence saying that amounted to partiality. One of them whose voice was high said he has 10 children he feeds so he equally needed as much as the women. Items donated include rice, noodles and detergent.
Chief of the persons affected by leprosy, Alheri Special Village at Yangoji in Kwali area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Aliyu Isa said the FCT administration has stopped giving them the monthly stipends they enjoyed.
Isa stated that the Umar Musa Yar’adua administration which succeeded Obasanjo’s and the present one did not show interest in their welfare. This he attributed to the return of the persons affected by leprosy to the city centre to solicit for alms.
Missionaries’ help
He cheerfully recalled that when the affected by leprosy were evacuated from the city to Yangoji by the former FCT minister, Malam Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai in 2003, each leper, both male and female received N 4,000 monthly. Government equally provide them foodstuffs, he said.
“Like me who is the chief of the persons affected by leprosy was receiving N6,000 while others were collecting N4,000. Since Obasanjo left, everything has stopped. That is why you see some of us go out to beg to get what to feed our families,” he said.
He noted that despite being in Abuja for over 38 years, no government to his knowledge has bothered to come to the aide of the lepers except the administration of former President Obasanjo.
He however acknowledged that missionaries including Christian and Muslim organizations do come at different times to give help to the lepers. Most of these charities donate food items and clothing.
He was also appreciative to managers of FCT Fadama III project who have given the persons affected by leprosy farm animals like sheep and goats. Women who formed development association were given cash donation as well.
“Like during the just concluded Ramadan fasting, we got items from the wife of the FCT minister, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed. She brought 20 bags of rice, 20 wrappers while the wife of the vice president sent 15 bags of rice, four bags of sugar, five cartons of Maggi [cubed seasoning] and a cow for Sallah,” he recalled.
90 rooms not enough for 615 inmates
All this is however not enough. The chief of persons affected by leprosy said his people are compelled to still go the city for alms. He said as many as 615 of them are living in the camp’s 90 rooms. It is from here that most them go out to source for means of livelihood for both themselves and their families.
“Let me tell you. It is not our intention to go out to beg, but considering our population in this camp it is hard. Some of us have gone into farming to cater for our families. Since we moved from the city to this place, at least 13 of my people have been killed in motor accidents on this highway simply because they went out looking for what to live on,” he added.
The role of Kwali council
Chairman of Kwali area council Joseph K. Shazin, while speaking on the matter, noted that the evacuation of persons affected by leprosy from the city to Yangoji was the initiative of the former FCT minister, El-Rufai but the council has been supporting the lepers socially and economically.
He said his administration in the last two years has been supporting the lepers with social welfare packages.
“From time to time, we visit them and donate food items and clothing materials to them so they don’t feel being neglected,” he said.
The council boss observed that it is difficult to stop the lepers from leaving the camp because apart from the placed not being fenced, it will amount to dehumanisation restraining their movement.
“I think that the initiators of the scheme have to come in and monitor their movement and also re-access and re-value the scheme to see whether it has failed or succeeded.” he said.
Efforts to make the Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the FCT administration, Mrs Blessing Onu to say why the lepers’ pay has been stopped failed. Zakari Aliyu who is head of public relations of the secretariat told our reporter on phone that the lepers will always beg no matter what government does for them.
It is hoped that authorities will at their convenience explain what they are doing to check killing of these persons by motorists on the highway, fencing of the camp, making the lepers to stop coming to the city to beg and whether they are aware that a lepers/beggars colony exists right under their nose in Durumi.
Source: OgoniNews
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