Abuja is already been overwhelmed by piles of uncollected waste as sanitation contractors have issued a warning that they will suspend services from September 25 if the government fails to settle their unpaid wages.
The contractors, under the umbrella of the Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC), revealed that they have not been paid since January 2025 despite keeping the capital city clean for the past nine months. In a strongly worded letter to the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, they said the situation has become unbearable and that continued work without payment is no longer sustainable.
With operations spread across 44 districts of Abuja, the contractors collect more than 1,000 tonnes of refuse daily using over 100 garbage trucks and 60 support vehicles. Their work provides livelihoods for more than 3,000 workers, many of whom, they warned, could be thrown into hardship if the standoff continues.
“Despite our loyalty and ongoing service, we have not been paid since January,” the group stated. “We have been borrowing to keep operations afloat, but those funds are exhausted. We can no longer guarantee uninterrupted waste collection in the city.”
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The contractors also accused the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) of failing to address their plight while still issuing work orders. Already, they said, the situation has led to a noticeable buildup of waste in areas once known for cleanliness, raising fears of a looming public health crisis.
In addition, they described the Gosa dumpsite as “deplorable” and unsuitable for effective waste management. They are demanding urgent intervention, not only to clear their arrears but also to improve facilities and review contract rates, which they say no longer match the harsh economic realities of inflation and currency depreciation.
AFSOWAC stressed that without immediate government action, Abuja risks descending into chaos as uncollected refuse could fuel the spread of diseases, compromise public health, and damage the capital’s reputation as one of Africa’s most orderly cities.
The contractors appealed to authorities to fast-track the procurement process initiated in October 2024, warning that their patience had run out. “Our commitment and hard work alone cannot keep Abuja clean. Without payment, waste collection will stop.”
