FCT Minister of State Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has called on the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) and other stakeholders to take responsibility for waste management in rural communities and satellite towns of the territory
Specifically, the minister maintained that the Federal Capital Territory, which serves as the seat of government, has been faced with the challenges of waste management owing to the frequency of household waste collection and the limited coverage.
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Dr Ramatu, who made the call at the occasion of the training and empowerment of solid waste litter pickers in the satellite towns of the territory, also observed that poor waste management has resulted in indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the littering of streets, roads and waterways with garbage.
She was represented at the occasion by the Acting Coordinator of Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Engr. Felix Nwankwo, where she stated that as part of measures to curb some of the solid waste management issues experienced in the nation’s capital, the STDD engaged cleaning contractors who employed litter control staff to clean streets in the satellite towns.
She said: “These workers are keeping our environments clean and protecting us from the health hazards of littering.
“It must be acknowledged that efficient solid waste management is a major challenge for developing countries, including Nigeria.
She affirmed that the training and empowerment of solid waste litter pickers in the satellite towns was a bold statement that the FCT Administration is reiterating the readiness to do all that was necessary to join hands with partners to fight the challenges of waste management and to put in place the needed framework to preserve the environment.
The minister, therefore, commended WASTE Africa and other critical stakeholders for their total commitment and dedication in ensuring that the environments are clean both in the City Centre and the Satellite Towns.
In his remarks, the Acting Coordinator of STDD, Engr. Felix Nwankwo, who was represented by the Director Environment, Mr. Olusegun Olusa, stated that the Waste Pickers training is to provide genuine social inclusion programmes for 180 waste pickers in the FCT Satellite Towns and other communities throughout the entire waste stream to enhance full and inclusive participation of all stakeholders and promote economic progress.
Nwankwo called on all waste management stakeholders to advance in their strategy towards waste to wealth initiative campaigns for better environmental friendliness and clean satellite towns which formed an integral part of the Satellite Towns Development Department mandates.
