The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the FCTA is shifting its focus toward industrial waste recycling to achieve a more sustainable and consistently clean capital city.
The Minister disclosed this during his routine projects inspection within the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Friday.
Speaking after the inspection, the Minister argued that the current culture of monthly environmental sanitation is insufficient for the long-term needs of a modern city.
Beyond monthly sanitation, the Minister questioned the long-term impact of the traditional “Sanitation Saturday”, noting that while it provides a temporary facelift, it does not solve the root problem of waste accumulation.
”If you do it on a Saturday, that Saturday is clean. But for me, that is not a very major issue. Having a dump site is not enough for you to say that the problem is solved.”
He emphasised that true waste management is an industrial necessity rather than just a routine business task.
According to the Minister, the goal is to transition from merely collecting refuse to processing it through modern technologies.
The Minister disclosed that the FCTA is looking to move beyond the use of landfills and dump sites by establishing specialised factories.
The vision is to turn Abuja’s waste into a resource by creating new products, aligning with global best practices.
The FCTA is already receiving and reviewing offers from experts who have successfully implemented these systems in other global cities.
In addition to waste management, the Minister provided updates on critical infrastructure projects slated for inauguration during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year in office.
Wike expressed high satisfaction with the judges’ residences, describing the work by Gilmor as “beautiful” and “99% ready”.
He also inspected the N5 road project, which is 100% complete, and the Court of Appeal (Abuja Division).
While the Court of Appeal is 90% complete, the Minister was candid about his expectations for quality, ordering the contractor to correct several “errors” before the official commissioning.
Addressing recent criticisms regarding the executive’s role in building judicial residences, Wike dismissed claims that such projects erode judicial independence.
He pointed out the irony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) criticising government-funded infrastructure while simultaneously accepting government sponsorship for their own activities and conferences.
”The mere fact that the executive constructs does not mean that that will lead to interference in the judiciary, reaffirming that providing comfortable housing allows judges to stay focused on their work without compromise”,Wike stated.
The Minister concluded by reiterating that the FCTA remains undeterred and focused on fulfilling its promises to the residents of Abuja through both physical infrastructure and innovative environmental solutions
