By Stanley Onyekwere
There is respite for some Abuja residents in Kuje Area Council as the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the weekend launched intensive waste evacuation intervention at Kuje Stadium Collection Point, a dump site allegedly abandoned by one of the waste management contractors in the Territory.
It was gathered that the intervention followed a directive of the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike to STDD Coordinator, Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu to urgently embark on the cleaning of the satellite towns, in collaboration with the six FCT Area Councils, as part of effort to rid the satellite towns of solid wastes indiscriminately dumped in open spaces, gutters and drainages.
To this end, the STDD Coordinator decided to put all the Contractors managing critical sites to task of upscaling their performance to meet with the standards specified in their contracts agreement or risk intervention by the Department. And 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.
Speaking during the exercise, Zulkiflu, assured that all necessary machinery will be put in place for the Administration to achieve its aims and mission alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led mandate, which is committed to ensuring a safe and hygienic FCT for all residents.
According to a statement from the STDD Public Relations Officer (PRO), Felicia Meeme, the Coordinator noted that the Department will not stop appealing to residents, particularly those living in the suburbs, to desist from dumping refuse in drainages and by the roadsides.
He added that one of his mission is to maintain and retain the dignity of the satellite towns in terms of cleanliness and road usage, saying that he will not stop insisting on the needful to be done.
Similarly, STDD Ag Director Environmental Services, Mr. Dauda Akun assured that his professional team in collaboration with the Area Councils are making sure that all the needful is done and all hands most be on deck in making sure that satellite towns are clean and green again.
Akun said: “This is a new Administration and we must work hard to achieve clean environment”. He promised that the STDD and Area Councils will ensure rigorous supervision and thorough monitoring of all contractors involved, down to the smallest details.”
He explained that the Department took action after it repeatedly issued both verbal and written warning letters and finally served an intervention notice to the contractor on May 16, 2024.
“Despite a promise from the contractor on May 17, 2024, to comply with the waste evacuation requirements, they failed to fulfill their commitment.
“This non-compliance necessitated immediate action by the STDD to prevent a potential outbreak of epidemics in the Kuje area.
“The ongoing waste evacuation intervention exercise by the STDD, aims to swiftly address the waste accumulation and mitigate any health risks posed to the local community and its environs.
“This proactive measure aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike is vigorously upholding”, he stated.
Leading the evacuation exercise, Dr. Okoh Abani who emphasized the importance of this intervention, stressed : “We cannot afford to risk the health and well-being of the residents of Kuje, and immediate action was necessary to ensure a clean and safe environment.”
He added that STDD and leaderships of FCT Area Councils remain committed to maintaining high sanitation and environmental health standards across all satellite towns, ensuring that contractors adhere to their responsibilities and that communities are safeguarded against health hazards.
Reacting to the development, one of the residents, Mr. Amalie Charles said: “it is a very disheartening situation seen the environment very dirty’.”
He also appreciates the STDD for the quick intervention to avoid an outbreak of disease but calls for more actions.
Another resident residing around the stadium, Mr. Abubakar Usman who decried that the collection point is too close to the residential areas, however appealed for something to be done about it, otherwise evacuation should be done more often to avoid the waste covering the roads.
