The Kano State Bureau of Statistics (KSBS) has disclosed that there are 6,573 street beggars in the state, following an official survey conducted across eight metropolitan local government areas.
The Director-General of the bureau, Suraj Sulaiman, made this known in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the figure emerged from a comprehensive mapping exercise.
According to the bureau, the survey revealed a significant concentration of young people among street beggars in the state.
“The bureau’s mapping exercise identified a total of 6,573 street beggars.
“Children aged 0 to 10 years account for 7 per cent, representing 457 individuals, while youths aged 11 to 20 years constitute the largest demographic group at 56.4 per cent,” Sulaiman explained.
He added that the findings indicate that street begging in Kano is largely driven by youth vulnerability, poverty, unemployment and limited access to education.
The KSBS boss stressed that poverty remains the leading factor behind the prevalence of street begging in the state, with unemployment and low levels of education also playing significant roles.
He noted that tackling the social problem requires targeted interventions that address these underlying issues rather than superficial measures.
Sulaiman also reiterated the importance of regulatory compliance in statistical activities within the state, warning organisations against conducting independent surveys without proper authorisation.
He said all bodies planning to carry out surveys in Kano must obtain prior clearance and official approval from KSBS.
Naijaonpoint reports that while acknowledging that street begging remains a serious social concern, the director-general emphasised that policy responses must be guided by credible, evidence-based data.
He further stated that the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf had declared a state of emergency in education and introduced interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of vulnerability among children and youths in the state.