Babagana Zulum: “I Completed My Postgraduate Studies in Ibadan; Beggars Also Exist in Southern Nigeria”

The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum discussing about the demographic challenges faced in Nigeria has lamented over the higher population of beggars in Nigeria. He argued that based on his educational exposure in the South, he discovered that there are also beggars in the Southern part of the country.

He however noted that the beggars population in the North cannot be compared to the one in the South. He attributed this phenomenon, in part, to cultural practices such as polygamy, which contribute to larger family sizes. He emphasized that while the population figures are significant, the key issue lies in effective management and resource allocation for the growing population, rather than simply focusing on the numbers themselves.

He said in an interview with Channels TV, ”I did my postgraduate studies in the University of Ibadan, we also have beggars in Southern Nigeria, but the population is high in Northern Nigeria. I believe this is because of the number of wives that we used to marry among ourselves. And that is why I want to use this opportunity to thank the Federal government for reestablishing the Almajiri educational board. I think we are working together to resolve some of the issues, and what matters is not the population, but how will you manage the population.”