By Eunice Orike
The Federal Capital Territory Executive Council (FCT EXCO) has approved a series of key contracts to improve waste management, traffic control, and environmental sanitation across Abuja.
The approvals followed presentations made by heads of several departments and agencies during the council’s meeting presided over by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Felix Obuah, announced that EXCO ratified contracts for comprehensive waste collection and management services across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the approvals also cover the operational maintenance of the Wupa Basic Treatment Plant and the procurement of monitoring and supervision utility vehicles to boost efficiency in sanitation enforcement and monitoring.
Obuah said that the newly contracted operators would take over waste collection operations by Monday, November 17, adding that the council’s decision marks “a new dawn in the cleanliness and environmental health of the nation’s capital.”
“We are committed to restoring Abuja’s image as one of the cleanest cities in Africa. By Monday, residents will begin to notice significant changes in waste collection and disposal operations across the territory,” Obuah said.
The Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) also received EXCO approval for the emergency evacuation of waste from open dumps, collection points, waterways, and streams in Dogon-Gada community, Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The Director of the department, Abdulkadir Zulkifli said the project, awarded to Messrs Dexter 360 Exploits Limited at a cost of N111,913,176 (inclusive of 7.5% VAT), will last for four weeks.
He noted that the intervention, which began in October 2024, was designed to eliminate long-standing waste hazards and improve the living conditions of residents in the affected communities.
“Our focus is to safeguard the health of residents and prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases that thrive in unsanitary environments,” Olusa said.
In a related development, the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) also got approval for several contracts covering the provision of card printers, security document printing, cleaning services, and security operations to enhance service delivery.
Furthermore, the EXCO approved the maintenance of 34 existing traffic lights and the installation of three new ones on strategic roads within the city to improve vehicular movement and safety.
The Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, Chinedu Elechi described the approvals as a significant boost to FCT’s urban management efforts.
“These contracts are a critical part of our traffic modernization agenda. They’ll help us reduce congestion, improve safety, and bring greater order to the city’s road network,” he said.
However, the administration reiterated its commitment to restoring order, sanitation, and efficient service delivery across Abuja.
“Our target is simply to make Abuja work better for everyone. We’re tackling waste, traffic, and environmental problems head-on because the capital city must reflect the standard of the nation”, the administration added.
