Nigeria: FCTA Urges Residents to Change Attitude Towards Sanitation

The chairman, ministerial committee on Clean and Green Greater Abuja Initiative, Alhaji Tukur Bakori has called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to adopt a positive attitude towards waste management.

Bakori who was speaking at the sensitisation forum on the cleaning and greening in area councils in Gwagwalada, yesterday, maintained that a clean and healthy environment is critical to a healthy economy adding that when the environment becomes degraded and polluted, it would affect the social and economic status of the masses.

“Our children are also entitled to better opportunities, healthy and happy lives. As such, the need for economic development, social justice and healthy, sustainable environment cannot be taken for granted. We all have a right to a safe, clean and healthy environment,” he said.

He advised residents to put an end to all the negative tendencies which would be detrimental to the health of the other residents.

“Demand that proper care of the environment be taken. Refuse dumping waste at undesignated sites in your area. Report all activities that constitute environmental risk and lodge complaints with the area council, Satellite Towns Development Agency or the police,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Zakari Dobi, had reiterated the council’s commitment towards achieving a clean and green Gwagwalada, adding that the council has been mobilising and sensitising the people in the council on the importance of a clean environment.

“I want to assure the FCT minister that our commitment and support to the cause is very high and not in doubt. We have put machinery in motion to mobilise and sensitise our people at every level within the area council,” he added.

Also speaking, the director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), FCT, Moses Abah called on traditional and religious leaders to take the message of the importance of a clean environment to their people, urging them to set up committees within their areas to bring about sustainability of the programme.