Keeping Abuja Clean Is Everyone’s Business-SSA

By: Janet Peni & Oji Moses

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Environment and Wastes Management, Dr. Fred Barivure Kpakol, has charged the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to give utmost priority to their immediate environment to ensure that Abuja becomes one of the cleanest cities.

The SSA gave this charge during an interaction between Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) management and the Association of FCT Solid Wastes Contractors.

Kpakol said the Federal Capital Territory Administration is resolute on making sure the city remains clean at all time.

According to him, “Abuja as the face of the nation has to be kept clean at all times. The environment determines how the people looks like. All negative attitude towards making the Capital city unclean and disheveled must change. Nobody flings empty can or any kind of wastes through their car windows abroad. They all play their part in ensuring their cities remain clean by trashing waste properly. We must imbibe that and help make the work of city cleaners easier.”

On how the Administration hopes to tackle the challenge of funding, the SSA said the practice of allocating monthly subventions to fund waste disposal and management is not good enough, if the challenge must be tackled headlong.

His words: “The practice of monthly subventions to fund waste management is not a good step in the right direction. Government should not be funding every service. Waste alone, if well managed, should be made to generate funds to take care of itself when we strictly begin to implement the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.”

“We are brainstorming and consulting with contractors and other stakeholders on ways to turn wastes to wealth so that funds so generated can pay those working in that sector and possibly create jobs. The practice of offloading everything at dumpsites or incinerating wastes needs be checked. You cannot be doing things in the same way and expect different result”, he added.

Kpakol assured that the contractors will be paid promptly; recalling the meeting the FCT Minister held with the waste contractors in September where he assured them that payments will be made for the services they have already rendered.

He revealed that the Ministerial Tenders Board will meet and all the backlog of debt will be paid following due process.

“We have charged them that they have to be on top of their game and bring to bear new initiatives and zest that will prove that they are now serious in the business of keeping the capital city not just clean but pollution free too,” he added.

Kpakol emphasized that the new FCT Administration has not come to witch hunt any contractor; saying that by February next year all batches of waste management contract will be done with.

“Those who did well will be commended and considered but we will not allow any weak link in the chain,” the SSA stressed.

Similarly, the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Engr. Osi Braimah, at the occasion said the Board is on course to achieve the aspirations of the FCT Minister, which is aimed at ensuring a clean, safe and functional city.

Braimah stated that the Board has equally passed the Minister’s directives to the contractors to mobilize to their lots, because it is not more business as usual.

“There will be a remarkable and rapid improvement of waste disposal very soon in the Federal Capital City”, the Director emphasized.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Association of FCT Solid Wastes Contractors, Ibrahim Alhassan Babayo, prayed and hope that the FCT Administration will live up to its promise of paying the backlog and prompt payment of the contractor subsequently for services rendered.

Babayo said, since they have been assured of prompt payments, the Association will continue to sacrifice and offer the services despite the astronomical inflation being witnessed presently in Nigeria.

The contractors have over three thousand employees in their various payrolls who are of the lower strata of the society,” the Chairman said.