By Eunice Orike
The Coordinator of the
Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Felix Obuah, on Monday, has expressed disappointment over the slow pace of refuse evacuation in Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Obuah, who noted that the nation’s capital should be a model city for cleanliness across Nigeria, issued a 48 hour ultimatum to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, to clean up the city.
The AMMC boss gave the ultimatum after an emergency meeting with the management of the Board and contractors handling refuse evacuation in Abuja.
Obuah, thereafter, directed the Director of AEPB, Mr Osi Braimah to ensure that Asokoro was thoroughly cleaned within 48 hours.
He added that the efforts should be extended to other major districts, including Guzape, Maitama, Central Business District, Wuse, and other areas within the Abuja metropolis.
He also directed the director to immediately recall casual workers to accelerate the evacuation of refuse across the city.
“I am tired of receiving calls from residents complaining of how dirty the city has become.
“Today I was forced to go round major areas of the city to assess the state of refuse collection and what I saw was an eyesore.
“I realised that the contractors engaged to clean the city are no longer doing their jobs and AEPB must do something about it,” he said.
He advised the companies to also within 48 hours, clean up their act, or face the wrath of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whom he said, was already displeased with the situation.
The Coordinator pointed out that the beauty of any city largely depended on its cleanliness.
According to him, Abuja should not only be clean but should also set the benchmark for other cities in the country to follow.
Responding, the Director Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Mr Braimah assured the Coordinator that the Board would do as directed.