Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has revealed that N8 billion is spent annually on waste management in the satellite towns across the territory as well as the Federal Capital City (FCC).
She said the money is spread between the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), which spends an average of N6 billion annually, while the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) spends N2 billion to pay over 64 cleaning contractors engaged in the management of waste within the nation’s capital.
She made the revelation at the maiden edition of the Annual General Meeting/Induction of Waste Management Association of Nigeria (WAMASON), FCT Council.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Environmental Services, Satellite Towns Development Department ( STDD) Mr. Olusegun Olusa, also called on communities to adopt sustainable waste management practices, which include sorting at source, composting of organic waste for horti-cultural/agricultural purposes among others.
She advocated the transition to circular economy model for sustainable growth and development in Nigeria, noting that in circular economy, virtually nothing is discarded as the products and materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible by designing them to be more durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable.
“It is clear that waste management is a cross-cutting environmental issue, impacting many aspects of our society and the economy. It has strong linkages to a range of other global challenges such as health, food and resource security, sustainable consumption and production, climate change and poverty reduction,” she affirmed.
She called for synergy and understanding between the government and the private sector in ensuring effective and profitable waste management, just as she pledged the administration’s commitment in providing the necessary legal framework that guarantees return on investment for service delivery.
In her presentation of 2016 to 2021 FCT Council report, the Councillor, Waste Management Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Kitan Oluwagbuyi, noted that despite the numerous challenges facing waste managers in the city, the association has collaborated with tertiary institutions across the country to organise workshop and mentorship on opportunities in waste management and sustainable development.
She also stated that in 2020 the association set up recycling centres in 20 schools across the FCT and five collection hub centres in collaboration with a member recycler-chanjadatti under a UNDP assisted fund.
