A non-governmental organisation, Crux Environmental Right, Advocacy and Development Foundation (CERADF), has applauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for what it described as his bold and decisive steps to address environmental degradation and poor waste management in Abuja.
The commendation followed the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) introduction of dedicated telephone lines for residents to report cases of uncleared refuse across the nation’s capital.
In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by its Country Director, Mercy Iviakpellas, and Director of Communications, Eswati Ikpi, the body stated that the initiative underscores the Wike-led administration’s commitment to environmental sanitation, transparency, and citizen participation.
“The decision to open direct communication channels for residents to report waste management failures is a practical and people-centred approach to tackling the refuse menace in the FCT,” the organisation said.
It urged residents to actively utilise the reporting platform to promote a cleaner and healthier environment, stressing that public cooperation is critical to the success of the initiative.
The FCTA had earlier announced four telephone numbers to enable residents report waste-related issues, a move aimed at tightening oversight and compelling waste management contractors to perform their duties.
Read also:
- 2023: Wike moves to choke opposite political parties with Executive Order 21
- Wike tasks new commissioners on seamless handover in 2023
- EFCC fires back at Bala Mohammed, rejects claims of Wike-backed persecution
Confirming the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, urged residents to send pictures and videos of uncleared refuse via WhatsApp, clearly stating the location to help authorities identify defaulting contractors.
Olayinka said the initiative is designed to curb the growing refuse problem in Abuja and ensure accountability among contractors responsible for waste evacuation.
The numbers released by the FCTA are 08038643087, 07011073406, 07011255710, and 09114843425.
However, the organisation called on the FCTA to sustain the momentum by enforcing strict sanctions against contractors who fail to meet agreed standards, noting that a clean Abuja is vital to public health and the image of Nigeria’s capital city.
