Waste and cleaning contractors operating in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital City have been urged to improve their performance, following complaints of poor waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City, FCT.
The Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, Kate Ogbonna, gave the advice during an interactive session with the contractors at the board’s headquarters in Abuja.
A statement issued by the Head of Information Unit, Janet Peni, disclosed that routine monitoring by AEPB supervisors showed many contractors were lagging behind in their duties to promptly evacuate waste in the city.
The statement quoted Mrs Ogbonna saying that, “The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performances stated that the contractors are not too good; so, the meeting was to properly educate and guide these contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators. We wanted them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them.
“We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules and the routine. All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean.”
The AEPB director also reminded the contractors that the Federal Capital Territory Minister had continued to ensure prompt payment of their entitlements, stressing that they had no justification for failing to meet agreed service standards.
“I am aware that there are challenges; every job has its challenges. Let them buy the needed equipment and engage more hands to make their job easy and seamless. The Board is willing to assist them, where necessary. They signed that they are capable,” she said.
Ogbonna said the board was also working closely with the Development Control Department to address the persistent problem of indiscriminate dumping of construction waste in parts of the capital city.
She further called on residents and businesses in Abuja to support the waste management system by paying their sanitation bills and providing appropriate waste bins.
“Residents need to do their part and we shall do ours. You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removal. You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of say, ten flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until when the contractor’s trucks will come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment. To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” the Director said.
Also speaking, the Director of Solid Waste Management, North, AEPB, Benjamin Enwerem, identified illegal night-time operators as a growing challenge to effective waste control in the city.
He said many roadside night parties and informal business activities generate waste that is often dumped indiscriminately, creating illegal refuse points around residential and commercial areas.
He said the board had taken note of the complaints and would deploy its task force to tackle the situation.
Enwerem, however, noted that despite some lapses, the overall performance of the contractors had improved compared to last year.
On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Ibrahim Babayo, welcomed the outcome of the meeting and pledged that members of the association would improve their operations.
He said the contractors had resolved to procure modern equipment, employ more workers and increase the frequency of waste collection across the city.