FCTA begins procurement process for waste collection contractors

Reprieve has come to residents of satellite towns in the nation’s capital, Abuja, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun procurement processes for the award of contracts for waste collection, evacuation, and disposal in the satellite towns.

The Coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, stated this on Thursday during a waste evacuation exercise in Karu, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, explaining that the waste evacuation will extend all the way to Karshi, while expressing hope that the exercise will also cover other Area Councils.

Zulkiflu explained that the tenure of the previous contractors had elapsed in April, adding that in the meantime, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had directed the clearing of dump sites in the axis as a stopgap measure.

The Coordinator added that the department would appeal to the FCT Minister on the possibility of totally removing the waste collection point, noting the health hazards it could pose to residents in the area.

Zulkiflu said: “So, the main purpose of this waste evacuation is that, you know, initially there had been contracts going on here for the duration of three years. I think the contract was awarded in 2022, and the contract elapsed this year in April.

“So, we are now carrying out another procurement process for the new award of contracts. And part of the measure that the Honourable Minister said we should take is to bridge the gap between the procurement process and the award of new contracts that will come.

“And as you can see here, the waste evacuation is taking place, not under any contractor, but under the watch of the Satellite Towns Development Department, FCTA.

“The Honourable Minister instructed me and has given me the direct order to come and start evacuating the waste across this Nyanya axis down to Karshi. And we are hoping that after that, we are still going to look at other Area Councils, because our main function is to intervene in critical areas in terms of waste evacuation in the satellite towns.

“As you can see, this place is designated as a collection point. A collection point is a place where all the dumps around a particular area can be brought and kept. And as you can see, we don’t have enough space.

“After every one or two minutes, you see people coming here to dump refuse. It would be very nice if this kind of place— in fact, if it can be totally removed — that would go a long way. But we are going to appeal to the Honourable Minister to look into that, in collaboration with the Area Councils.

“Because we are looking at the health aspect of the populace around the area. This is very, very hazardous. But if there are other alternatives, we can link up with the Honourable Minister in collaboration with the Area Council.”

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