By Eunice Orike
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has commenced a new phase of sanitation oversight, with 54 solid waste management contractors resuming cleaning and waste evacuation across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The move follows a directive from the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who last week met with the contractors to ensure an immediate improvement in the city’s sanitation standards and warned against any excuses in service delivery.
Monitoring the exercise on Monday, Director of Solid Waste Management (North) at the AEPB, Enwerem Benjamin said the operation aligns with the minister’s vision to maintain a clean and healthy city.
“The inspection will ensure proper implementation and assess the deployment of equipment and personnel by the contractors in the field,” Benjamin said.
He urged residents without adequate waste bins to acquire them and avoid indiscriminate dumping.
“I appreciate FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for approving this long-awaited city-cleaning contract. Today marks the official commencement of operations by the new contractors, and we are here to monitor their performance”, he said.
According to Benjamin, the teams have already covered key areas, including the Central Business District (CBD), Maitama, and parts of Asokoro.
“Their performance is fair, and they have started well. If they sustain this momentum, residents will notice a significant improvement in just five days,” he noted.
He emphasised that subsequent inspections will focus on identifying households without the required waste bins, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain cleanliness in the FCT.
