A large amount of uncollected waste keeps spoiling the appearance of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), posing a risk to public health. Th...
A large amount of uncollected waste keeps spoiling the appearance of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), posing a risk to public health.
The garbage, which frequently serves as an eyesore, can be found on streets, markets, and roads because of various reasons such as the absence of public trash bins and insufficient waste disposal services. This escalating environmental issue is thought by many to lead to public health dangers such as disease outbreaks, environmental contamination, and ultimately damages the reputation of the federal capital city.
Inhabitants and tourists in the city keep voicing worries about the increasing threat posed by uncontrolled garbage sites and the rising piles of refuse found on and beside main roads, as well as the authorities' failure to remove them.
In areas like Wuse, Utako, Garki, Gwarinpa, Jabi, Life Camp, and Nyanya, heaps of garbage now stand alongside the city's skyline.
The foul smell of decaying garbage lingers in the atmosphere, as scavengers and stray creatures move about unrestricted near waste disposal areas.
Once a clean and well-organized city, it has now transformed into an eyesore and environmental disaster for numerous inhabitants.
"Wherever you look, there are heaps of garbage that have gone uncollected for weeks," said Oritoke Olalekan, a local resident of Wuse.
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) appears to be inactive. This is their primary responsibility to maintain clean streets, yet the board has not fulfilled its role.
Drivers and merchants express comparable grievances
Rafiu Jimoh-Adebukola, a taxi operator based in Utako, mentioned that the circumstances created significant health and safety risks.
"When waste accumulates, individuals burn it to minimize the odor. The resulting smoke hinders our sight and causes breathing challenges. At times, troublemakers lurk near these landfills and steal people's phones during traffic," he mentioned.
At the Life Camp intersection and Nyanya traffic circle, locals reported that garbage piles have turned into permanent features. These dumps draw scavengers, referred to locally as 'baban bola,' who collect recyclables but frequently leave additional mess behind.
The practice, according to residents, had also created an opportunity for illegal activities.
We have encountered situations where these scavengers commit theft or cause damage. Upon being caught, the police let them go after accepting bribes," claimed Taye Ayedero, another driver, who added, "We are fed up with complaining; the government must address this issue seriously.
The same conditions prevail in Wuye, Garki, and certain parts of the Matama local government area.
A local from Wuye, Esther Ishaya, mentioned that the condition has turned alarming, noting that the pile of garbage on her street has remained for several months.
Situation worse in Gwarinpa
Entrepreneurs and drivers who operate in the Gwarinpa District have expressed concern over the increase in garbage piles that have occupied several main roads in the area.
The most severely affected regions include those along the 3rd Avenue Road, the entrance to the Works and Housing area, and near the Kado-Bimko market.
Although business operators mainly complained about what they claimed made the area uncomfortable for them and their customers, drivers expressed concerns that piles of garbage were spreading onto roads, causing traffic jams, particularly during rush hours.
One of the shopkeepers interviewed, Fidelis Oketa, mentioned that a "malodorous smell" coming from the garbage was toxic and harmful to their well-being.
We have brought up the issue with the Federal Housing Authority many times, as we are the ones who allocated the land to everyone you see here, but it has made no difference. As a businessman investing millions of naira, facing these challenges every day is a major obstacle. All our regular customers are now avoiding us and no longer choosing to do business with us because of this negative environment.
Additionally, a restaurant manager at the nearby center, Blessing Daniel, mentioned that she had lost more than 70 percent of her customers because of the circumstances.
Even the new people who arrive here, you would notice them trying to finish their meal quickly and exit the restaurant in a rush rather than ordering additional items while dining.
The caterer mentioned that the contractors responsible for removing the waste barely managed to clear it when they eventually arrived.
"They would make about two trips with their truck and head off to a different place," she sighed.
She recommended moving the waste from the intersection to a different appropriate site.
A professional driver, Jamilu Sulaiman, who works in the area, mentioned that drivers are struggling to navigate the location, with certain roads completely bypassed because of the pile of garbage.
A community figure, Malam Abubakar Ali, called on the AEPB to take action, noting that earlier attempts by locals have not yielded results.
The head of the Kado-Bimko village, Malam Ibrahim Isiaku, mentioned that his area is also covered in garbage piles, and he stated that a clarification they requested from AEPB officials regarding the matter revealed that the contract for waste removal in the region, managed by a company, has been expired for quite some time.
He mentioned that, consequently, some locals chose to handle the issue by organizing a fund for the project with the help of shopkeepers and other local business owners.
Public health disaster looms
Public health specialists have cautioned that the effects of inadequate waste disposal extend beyond just visual appeal. They indicate that decomposing garbage emits harmful gases like methane and ammonia, which may lead to breathing difficulties and various health issues.
Dr. Onaja Sunday, an expert in environmental health, stated that prolonged contact with these harmful substances could diminish the body's immune response.
"If waste is allowed to decompose in the open, it serves as a breeding site for flies, rats, and mosquitoes that spread illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria. People living near these landfills are especially vulnerable," she mentioned.
She demanded immediate action, highlighting that due to the FCT's expanding population, the amount of daily waste produced has risen significantly, far exceeding the capabilities of current collection systems.
Why the waste management crisis continues in Abuja
A town planner named Barnabas Atiyaye, who is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and serves as the managing director of ENVICONS Team Ltd, stated that the waste problem in Abuja resulted directly from fast urban expansion, poor institutional cooperation, and inadequate facilities.
As he stated, the FCT has seen a 'significant population increase,' especially in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and surrounding towns such as Gwarinpa, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Karu, resulting in increased waste production.
"Although the government has made efforts via the AEPB and local councils, waste collection and disposal continue to fall short of expectations. Several residential areas and markets face inconsistent waste collection, unlawful dumping, and open burning," he mentioned.
Atiyaye identified five significant issues affecting the FCT waste management system, including insufficient collection and disposal facilities due to a lack of waste bins, compactor trucks, and poorly maintained landfills, which hinder effective waste disposal.
Some face challenges due to weak institutional coordination, resulting from overlapping responsibilities among the AEPB, local councils, and private companies, leading to confusion and inefficiency.
He also highlighted the lack of public awareness, noting that many residents continue to dispose of waste randomly or participate in open burning, indicating a weak grasp of appropriate waste management practices.
"Our recycling and waste-to-energy programs are restricted. Recycling is primarily informal, with scavengers carrying out the work without proper safety gear or oversight from authorities," he added.
He stated that inadequate data and poor planning are also issues, noting that the FCT does not have accurate statistics on waste production; and has not incorporated waste management into urban planning strategies.
The way out
Atiyaye emphasized that addressing this environmental threat requires immediate and thorough reform.
He suggested a mix of enhancing institutions, advancing technology, and encouraging community involvement.
He suggested the following steps: Strengthening the AEPB through reforms that grant the agency a defined power to license, oversee, and manage all waste-related activities in the FCT, broadening its reach by franchising waste collection to reliable private firms across the six area councils to guarantee consistent and fair service.
He also recommended the importance of "upgrading landfills by transforming current dumps such as Gosa into properly designed sanitary landfills with leachate management and gas collection, encourage recycling and composting through establishing material recovery centers, and motivate investors in the recycling of plastic, paper, and electronic waste."
There is also a requirement for public education via ongoing initiatives conducted through the media, educational institutions, and religious organizations to encourage a culture of hygiene.
He also urged the FCT Administration to implement waste-to-energy projects by investigating public-private collaborations to transform organic waste into biogas or electricity for use in street lighting and government buildings.
For him, implementing these measures could enable the FCT to attain a cleaner environment, generate employment opportunities, and conform to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 11, 12, and 13).
'Waste should no longer be considered a burden but an economic asset. The FCT can transform its waste issue into a benchmark for environmental sustainability,' he highlighted.
Officials step in, investigate garbage disposal emergency
The House of Representatives has decided to form a temporary committee to start an in-depth investigation into the escalating waste management issue within the Federal Capital Territory, as worries grow that the situation has transformed the city into a public health and safety emergency area.
This came after the approval of a motion regarding issues of immediate public concern, proposed by Umar Shehu Ajilo during Thursday's session.
Introducing the motion, Ajilo expressed concern over the worrying condition of environmental cleanliness in Abuja, marked by uncontrolled waste disposal, clogged drainage systems, and non-working streetlights in key roads, inner neighborhoods, and communal areas.
He cautioned that the combined impact of waste buildup and widespread darkness caused by non-working streetlights was forming a 'dual crisis' endangering public health and safety in the capital city.
"Such unhygienic conditions foster disease carriers like mosquitoes and rats, resulting in a rise in malaria, typhoid, cholera, and Lassa fever outbreaks. They also pollute air and water supplies, putting the lives of residents, particularly women, children, and the elderly, at risk," Ajilo stated.
Supporting the motion, Ahmed Jahar Babawo praised the effort, highlighting that FCT's infrastructure management has turned into a crucial issue, especially during the rainy season when clogged drains lead to traffic jams throughout the city.
"The minister is busy; you can take it or leave it. Nyesom Wike is the finest FCT minister we've ever had. The reality is that managing infrastructure differs from providing it. This report will highlight the pressing need to concentrate on maintenance," Babawo stated.
New garbage disposal system starts on Monday - Wike
In response to increasing grievances from locals, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has pledged to address the issue directly.
Wike, who led the FCT Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, stated that the government would launch a new waste disposal system starting on Monday, November 17, 2025.
Shortly after the meeting, the coordinator of the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Amechi Obuah, informed journalists that the Executive Committee had approved and ratified the document outlining new contractors to handle waste collection and management services in different areas of the FCT.
Chief Obuah stated that the approval also included the acquisition of fundamental treatment facilities, along with the upkeep and management of monitoring utility vehicles.
The head of the AMMC, who had previously voiced concerns about waste management in the FCT, conveyed the expectation that under the new waste system, citizens will experience a tidier Abuja.
In discussing waste management, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, the Director of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), mentioned that the committee approved the payment for a contract aimed at emergency waste removal from open dumps, collection centers, water bodies, and streams within the Dogon Gada neighborhood in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
He mentioned that the amount of N111,913,176 was allocated for carrying out the contract.
Previously, Chidi Amadi, the chief of staff to the FCT minister, had emphasized the minister's focus on environmental cleanliness within the region and his initiatives aimed at transforming Abuja into a world-class city.
He stated, "The minister is deeply worried, particularly about the waste management contract. And he takes it very seriously because it directly impacts the city's cleanliness."
During a recent review of active cleanup efforts on the airport road and the Nyanya-Karshi corridor, Wike acknowledged that waste buildup in the nation's capital has emerged as a significant issue.
He blamed the recent issues on the end of old waste agreements, but promised that new contracts would be given out soon.
"It has been a significant issue, but we have already started removing all the waste that was discarded. Over the next two weeks, the contract for waste management will be officially handed out," Wike said to reporters.
The minister highlighted that the FCTA will no longer work with 'political contractors' who lack the necessary technical skills to provide quality service. 'Many of them don't possess the required tools or experience. We are taking all measures to ensure that only qualified contractors are hired,' he stated.
He requested residents to be patient, promising that the administration was committed to bringing back cleanliness and environmental harmony in both the city center and nearby neighborhoods.
"We recognize the annoyance of the locals. The FCTA is not pleased with the present situation, but improvements are on the way," he stated.
Infrastructure boost
Consistent with the minister's pledge, the Director of Development Control, during a recent media conference, stated that the FCT Executive Council had given approval to extend the service agreements for the Jabi pump station, a key wastewater treatment plant.
"The Jabi pumping station was established before the Wupa treatment plant. It processes waste prior to its transfer to Wupa. Halting its functioning could pose a risk to the environment due to the release of harmful materials," the director stated.
He thanked the FCT Executive Council for endorsing the extension of the service contract, calling it a crucial move in avoiding environmental pollution and enhancing waste management throughout the city.
Residents seek action
Although these guarantees were provided, many locals stated they would only trust the outcomes once they witnessed them.
"We have listened to numerous promises in the past. If Wike's government is able to genuinely improve and maintain the city, then Abuja can restore its dignity as the nation's capital," said Osaya Adamu, a long-time resident of the FCT.
Some individuals desire greater involvement in the process. Ngozi Nwafor, a vendor at Garki Market stated, 'The government by itself cannot achieve this. Communities ought to establish waste management committees to oversee their regions and ensure contractors are responsible.'
Environmental advocates also highlighted that public education was crucial. They contend that without a shift in individual actions, even the most effective system will not succeed.
'Until the residents realize that discarding garbage along the roadside or burning waste negatively affects all, this cycle will persist,' Hamza Sule, a representative from the Green City Initiative stated.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
