By Vivian Eze, NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced waste evacuation intervention exercise to rid the FCT’s satellite towns of indiscriminate solid waste dumped in open spaces, drainages.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise which commenced on Saturday in Kuje Area Council, is being executed by the
Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD),
Speaking at the Kuje stadium waste collection point, STDD Coordinator, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu
said the exercise was sequel to the directive by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Zulkiflu said that the FCT minister had directed that the territory and in particular, the satellite towns should be kept clean.
He said following the directive, his department tasked all contractors managing critical sites to upscale their performance to meet with the standards specified in their contracts agreement or risk intervention by the department.
“Some contractors have since swung into action and their sites are wearing a new look now, while those who have not done so, have been pencilled down for intervention.
“We are carrying out intervention at Kuje Stadium Collection Point, a site abandoned by one of the waste management contractors.
“This action is taken after the department repeatedly issued both verbal and written warning letters and finally served an intervention notice on the contractor on May 16.
Zulkiflu said that the contractor had made several promises but failed to comply with the waste evacuation requirements on May 17, 2024.
“This non-compliance necessitated immediate action by the STDD to prevent a potential outbreak of epidemics in Kuje,” he said.
Also speaking, the Acting Director, Environmental Services, Mr Dauda Akun, said the exercise aimed to swiftly address the waste accumulation and mitigate any health risks posed to the local community and its environs.
Akun assured that all necessary machinery would be put in place by the administration to achieve its aims and mission alongside President Bola Tinubu’s mandate of ensuring a safe and hygienic FCT for all residents.
He appealed to residents, particularly those in the suburbs, to desist from dumping refuse in drainages and by the roadsides.
Dr. Okoh Abani who coordinated the exercise said STDD could not afford to risk the health and well-being of the residents of Kuje.
He said the department would ensure that contractors adhere to their responsibilities and that communities are safeguarded against health hazards.
Mr Amalie Charles, a resident of Kuje who witnessed the exercise thanked STDD for the quick intervention to avoid an outbreak of diseases.
“it is a very disheartening situation seeing the environment very dirty, the department should intensify action in extending the service to other areas,’ he said.
Also speaking, Abubakar Usman, another resident said the collection point was too close to residential areas.
He appealed to the authority concerned, to do something about it, otherwise, evacuation should be done more often to avoid the waste covering the roads.(NAN)