By Ayoni M. Agbabiaka
The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has directed that the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) take the business of waste disposal seriously and must fund the evacuation in the area councils.
The minister after the FCT Operations Briefing Session in Gwarinpa I District I District (Life-Camp), Abuja cautioned the area council chairmen and officials against their ’nonchalant altitudes’ towards keeping the area councils and satellite towns clean. He warned that the trend must be reversed.
He noted that it’s not enough to clean only the Federal Capital City; stressing that the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory must be holistically cleaned.
According to him, a total of 81,950.17 tons of solid waste has been collected and disposed at designated dump sites in Abuja by the FCT Administration between the months of January and March 2015.
The minister further revealed that in the month of March 2015 alone, a total of 23,865 tonnes of solid waste was collected and disposed at designated sites. Adding that, the total Healthcare and Special Wastes collected during the period January-March 2015 was 1,723.37 tons.
He said further that in order to give full coverage to the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, his administration has established new enforcement posts at Kado District, AYA, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Nnamdi Azikiwe Way by the Railway crossing; saying that this measure would no doubt, better the control of nuisances as well as enhance enforcement of all environmental regulations across the entire city.
“The FCT Administration has between January 1 and April 10, 2015 arrested and prosecuted 3,782 street traders/hawkers in the Federal Capital City, Abuja”
Senator Mohammed also directed the Board to redouble its efforts to get rid of all environmental nuisances in the city. He saidt no stone must be left unturned in keeping the Abuja environment clean and healthy because Abuja is the window through which the world sees Nigeria.
The meeting was attended by FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu; FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu; FCDA Executive Secretary, Engr. Adamu Ismaila; FCT Chief of Staff, Mr. Abubakar Saqiq; Mandate Secretaries and all the Directors of Operation Departments.
