The Sociology of Homelessness in Abuja: A Study of Street Dwellers in the Federal Capital Territory

Urban homelessness in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory represents a social problem of growing visibility, driven by the intersection of rural migration, housing unaffordability, demolition of informal settlements, and inadequate social welfare systems. This study examines the sociological dimensions of homelessness among street dwellers in Abuja, exploring pathways into homelessness, survival strategies, and social identity management. A qualitative ethnographic approach was adopted, combining eight weeks of participant observation in three identified street-dwelling communities with twenty-five in-depth interviews with homeless individuals and five interviews with officials from the FCT Social Development Secretariat. The Labeling Theory of Becker was applied in analyzing social identity dynamics. Findings reveal that eviction from informal settlements following government demolition exercises was the single most common proximate cause of homelessness, cited by 52% of interviewees. Prior rural-urban migration and failure to establish stable income constituted the structural preconditions. Street dwellers developed elaborate social hierarchies and informal governance systems, with established members providing mentorship to new arrivals. Social stigma from passersby was managed through selective self-presentation and avoidance of certain public spaces. Children in street-dwelling families faced acute educational deprivation. Drug use was prevalent among male youth, employed primarily as a coping mechanism for social exclusion and physical exposure. The study recommends a moratorium on informal settlement demolitions without adequate relocation alternatives and establishment of low-barrier emergency shelter facilities in Abuja. Keywords: homelessness, Abuja, street dwellers, urban poverty, social identity.