STDD begins massive clean up of Abuja Satellite Towns

By Stanley Onyekwere 

In a bid to keep Abuja satellite towns clean,  the Satellite Town Development Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has embarked on a massive clean up exercise  across the six area Councils of the Territory.

STDD while explaining that the exercise would not be a one-off thing, appealed to residents,  particularly those living in the suburbs to desist from dumping refuse in drainage and road corridors.

In a statement from the Department’s  Public Relations Officer (PRO), Meeme Felicia, which was made available to PeoplesDaily yesterday, the STDD Coordinator, Comrade Obinna Francis Ogwuegbu, who inspected the exercise reiterated that the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu remains committed to ensuring a safer and hygienic FCT for all residents. 

Ogwuegbu revealed that the 

distillation of drainage, clearing of dump site  and waste evacuation around the  interchanges  and roads leading in and out of  the satellite  towns are ongoing  in Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kubwa, Kuje, Abaji, and Karshi.

He added that six area Council contractors on waste management have all been drafted and recalled to return to work at their various sites.

According to him, the situation of waste generation in the FCT has an exponential trend because of the influx of Nigerians into the Capital Territory, peoples’ attitude, lifestyle, and behaviours towards their environment.

He however, opined that residents especially those in the Satellite Towns must stop indiscriminate dumping and littering of refuse along the roads, canals and in drainage, thereby blocking roads and drainage systems 

The Coordinator STDD solicited the cooperation  of leadership of the Area Councils  in  cleaning and managing wastes in  the satellite towns, since  it’s one of their primary duties, even as the STDD tries to intervene. 

He further noted  that one of his priorities is to maintain and retain the integrity of the Abuja Masterplan as it relates to the  satellite towns in terms of their designs, infrastructural development and environmental concerns.

While assuring to do his possible best with the available resources to raise the banner at the Satellite Towns, the STDD boss called on the residents to partner with the department  in evolving  environmentally friendly communities.

He reiterated that more resources will be deployed in areas of waste management and infrastructure development, in actualisation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision.