Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABAKALIKI, Nigeria — Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has issued a firm warning to indigenes who engage in street hawking outside the state, saying that from 2026 onwards, offenders will be arrested and brought back home for rehabilitation and reintegration as part of broader efforts to curb unemployment and social vices among the youth. The announcement, made during a public engagement with community members and youths, reflects growing concern by the state government over the prevalence of informal and precarious work among its citizens in major cities such as Lagos and Onitsha.
Governor Nwifuru portrayed widespread street hawking by Ebonyi youths as a social and economic embarrassment for the state, emphasising that it undermines efforts to promote dignity, productivity and skill development. He said the policy shift is intended not to punish but to address underlying issues of poverty and lack of opportunity by guiding young people toward vocational training and meaningful employment back home in Ebonyi. The governor described the new stance as part of a planned series of interventions due to begin next year if the trend continues unabated.
In his remarks, the governor made clear that the state government will actively track and detain indigenes found hawking on the streets of other cities — including major commercial hubs — with the aim of returning them to Ebonyi for participation in empowerment programmes. These initiatives are intended to provide alternative livelihoods to street vending and reduce the number of youths who migrate to cities in search of informal work.
The announcement has provoked mixed reactions among residents and observers. Supporters argue that the strategy could discourage precarious employment while emphasising skills acquisition and self‑sufficiency. Ebonyi has previously grappled with a reputation for high numbers of street hawkers in other states, a situation the governor has publicly noted reflects deeper structural challenges within the local economy and labour market.
Critics and civil liberties advocates, however, have cautioned against heavy‑handed enforcement that could criminalise survival strategies of vulnerable youth without adequate social safety nets. They stress that arresting and detaining hawkers may not address root causes such as limited local job opportunities, education gaps and economic hardship, and could inadvertently expose returning youths to stigma or legal trouble. Some stakeholders have urged a complementary focus on expanding job creation, entrepreneurship support and educational pathways within Ebonyi State.
The governor’s announcement builds on earlier statements in which he spotlighted the large number of Ebonyi youths found hawking outside the state, asserting that the phenomenon is symptomatic of limited employment options and a lack of productive engagement for young people. He has previously linked these trends to the state’s drive to bolster industrialisation and economic diversification, including investment in vocational training and infrastructure projects designed to create local employment.
Stakeholders in Ebonyi’s youth sector have welcomed aspects of the governor’s focus on rehabilitation, describing skills training and empowerment as more sustainable than punitive measures alone. They argue that combining enforcement with genuine economic opportunity will determine the long‑term success of efforts to reduce street hawking both within and beyond Ebonyi State. Civil society groups have also encouraged ongoing dialogue between government, community leaders and young people to design programmes that reflect the aspirations and realities of local youth.
As the 2026 policy horizon approaches, the state government is expected to roll out detailed plans identifying the logistics of enforcement, rehabilitation frameworks and partnerships with vocational institutions. Observers say clarity on how such enforcement will be operationalised — including respect for human rights and safeguards against arbitrary detention — will be critical to balancing social order with individual freedoms.
Whether the strategy will achieve its stated objectives of reducing hawking and expanding economic opportunities remains to be seen, but it has already stirred a national dialogue on how states balance enforcement with empathy in addressing informal economic behaviour among youths.
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