By Stanley Onyekwere and Mashe Umaru Gwamna
In order to improve the sanitary standard of Abuja metropolis, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has procured and launched 8 brand new mechanical sweepers and 4 mechanical litter pickers.
The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who unveiled these environmental machines, also launched 2 new Roll-on Roll-off trucks, at a brief ceremony in Garki, Abuja.
The minister revealed that a total sum of N477 million was expended to procure the new equipment to enhance the operational capacity of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
He said the Administration decided to commit this huge resources into providing necessary environmental sanitation equipment and machinery for the purpose of quick clean-up exercises and prompt restoration of neighborhood outlooks especially when weather condition like storms and winds leave refuse and litters on their trail.
He added that the street sweepers and mechanical litter pickers would be deployed to areas of high refuse generation activities like bus stops, event centers and markets among others.
According to him, the initiative demonstrates the resolve of the FCTA to leave no stone unturned in its commitment to make Abuja a world class city, in line with the vision of its founding fathers and the Master Plan.
He further disclosed that contract for the supply of more waste management equipment for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) have been awarded to address the challenge of ageing and obsolete equipment.
He adds: “This contract include: 28Nos. Refuse Compacting Trucks; 2Nos. Sewage Trucks; 4Nos. additional Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Trucks as well as 2Nos. 30-Tons Tippers.”
The minister therefore appealed to the residents as well as corporate entities in the FCT to promptly pay their environmental service charges to enable the AEPB and indeed the FCT Administration to continue to provide good services for inhabitants of the Territory.
Earlier, AEPB’s Acting Director, Mrs. Aisha Adebayo pointed out that the initiative by the current FCT Administration has shown the level of its commitment to providing clean, hygienic and sustainable environment for the well-being of present and future generations of residents of the Territory.
She said the equipment would be deployed to clean the highway and other points with high litter generation, noting that the Abuja environment has never had it this nice since the establishment of the AEPB.
“The provision of these mechanical sweepers will not in any way affect the women that are presently carrying out litter control, as none of them will be laid off,” she added.
